Pink And Blue

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29767, 9 March 1962, Page 6

Pink And Blue

Two shrubs for late summer which can be usefully associated with each , other are powder-blue Caryopteris mastacanthus and pale pink Ceanothus Marie Simon. Neither plant is as well known as it deserves to be—perhaps they have been pushed out of mind with the galaxy of bedding plants which are available —but they are definitely worthy of attention.

Caryopteris makes a small bush about three feet through and three feet tall. Leaves are an attractive silver-green, which acts as a quite delightful foil for the powder blue Bowers. Some folks call it Blue Spirea—perhaps not botanically accurate, but it does give me the right sort of impression. Many of the silver leaved plants hail from warm climates, and Caryopteris is no exception. It has the common characteristics of these plants—a dislike of removal when once established, so it is normally offered by nurserymen from pots, rather than being raised for sale in the open ground. Both Caryopteris and Ceanothus Marie Simon have similar requirements when it comes to pruning—cut them hard back each year, removing all the new growth formed in the previous season. The sort of pruning that is easy to remember and apply!

Gardeners who know their plants may be surprised at the mention of a pink ceanothus—most of them are blue —but the variety Marie Simon is both unusual and attractive. It has a similar habit to Caryopteris a rounded bush, perhaps slightly taller growing, and the red stems show up well against the silvery-green foliage of the other. A clump of two or three plants of each, grouped together at the front of the border, makes quite a nice feature for the late summer border. Don’t forget when it comes to planting time!