Sunshine Blue® II Bluebeard

Caryopteris incana 'SMNCVH'

Proven Winners®

Proven Winners® Caryopteris with Golden Foliage that Glows Behind Brilliant Blue Blooms
Thrives in Zones 5-9
Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Rabbit Resistant
Showy Blue Blooms From Late Summer to Late Fall
Perfect for Mass Planting in Butterfly Gardens

$26¹⁴

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Find your Growing Zone

Plant Size

Quart Container #2 Container

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: This shrub performs best in full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct light daily. While it can handle light afternoon shade in the hottest climates, you will get the best nectar production and deepest blue flower color in the brightest spot available.
Soil: It thrives in loose, well-drained soil and actually prefers leaner conditions over rich, heavy ground. If you have heavy clay, plant it in a raised bed or incorporate organic compost to improve drainage, as "wet feet" during winter is the primary cause of plant failure.

Watering Requirements

During its first growing season, provide about one inch of water per week to help the root system expand. Once established, Sunshine Blue® II is quite drought tolerant and typically only needs supplemental water during extended dry spells. Inconsistent watering or overly saturated soil often leads to root rot or sparse foliage, so it is better to lean toward the dry side rather than overwatering.

Pruning Tips

Since this variety blooms on new wood, you should cut the entire plant back to about 6 to 12 inches from the ground in late winter or very early spring. Think of this like a reset button that encourages a flush of vigorous new stems and a tidier, rounded shape. Pruning at this time ensures you do not cut off any of the upcoming season's flower buds while also removing any winter dieback.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a light application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new growth begins to emerge. Avoid using high nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer because this encourages tender green growth that will not have time to harden off before the first frost. This late-season growth is easily damaged by cold temperatures and can weaken the overall health of the shrub.

Delivery and Shipping

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Plant specifications
Plant Characteristics	Attracts pollinators, Cold hardy, Deer-resistant, Drought resistant, Flowering, Fragrant, Disease resistant
Hardiness Zone	5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Sunlight	Full sun, Partial shade
Height	2-3 ft
Width	2-3 ft
Watering Needs	Low
Preferred Soil	Clay, Loamy, Peaty, Sandy
Growth Rate	Fast
Growth Habit	Bushy, Compact
Blooms In	Fall, Summer
Flower Color	Blue
Foliage Color	Green
Fragrant	Yes
Suitable Space	Outdoors
Botanical Name	Caryopteris incana 'SMNCVH'
Species	incana
Cultivar	SMNCVH
Class	Lamiales
Does Not Ship To	AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

The Proven Winners® improved selection, the Sunshine Blue® II Bluebeard PP 28,093 ( Caryopteris incana 'SMNCVH') is a brilliantly-colored flowering shrub with a gorgeous color combination! This is a cheerful and bright small flowering shrub with blue flowers that are especially eye-catching amid gold-tinted foliage and will be adored by your yard's butterflies!

Both the flowers and foliage have a pleasing scent and will continue their fabulous show from late summer and into fall! Sunshine Blue® II Bluebeard features delicate, blue flowers that rise out and above the bright foliage, their airy nature an almost ethereal appearance for your landscape. The tiny, blue tufts of floral perfection are held aloft on stems strong enough to hold them erect as they sway on the breezes.

Hardy throughout USDA planting zones 5 to 9, these Blue Mist Spirea bushes grow 2-3 feet in height and width. These are deciduous shrubs in warm climates but act as herbaceous perennials in colder zones, dying back to the ground in the winter. Deer tend to pass it by, and it will be a relatively carefree plant for your landscape.

Planting and Application:

Sunshine Blue® II is a new, improved variety of the classic Sunshine Blue Bluebeard, and is more tolerant of cold climates. Sunshine Blue® II has an upright, compact nature and is a stronger plant than some other Bluebeard varieties.

These would be wonderful as container plants for your patio, or make a striking border for one of your garden beds. Bluebeard is great facer shrubs and low-growing edging, and this high-impact flowering bush really shows off with beauty and ease!

If you have a slope in your landscape, planting Sunshine Blue® II Bluebeard en masse would create a spectacular effect! Thriving in hot, dry, sunny spots, Caryopteris are must-haves for en masse plantings, in rows along sunny pathways and sidewalks, and in Rock Gardens!

An excellent plant for attracting butterflies and bees, plant these colorful shrubs in your Butterfly garden while giving you plenty of colorful stems for cut flower bouquets!

Last-Season Lavender-Blue Flowers
Aromatic Sunny Foliage Color
Fragrant Top To Bottom
Cut Flowers & Attracts Butterflies
Works Well In Containers
Versatile Landscape Use, Low Hedges, Edging & Facer Plants

#ProPlantTips for Care:

For the most colorful foliage and the most flowers, provide a full sun location with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. However, in warmer climates, these shrubs can handle afternoon shade. Bluebeard must have very well-drained soil and moderate moisture throughout the growing season. Hardy, durable, and adaptable, Bluebeard is salt-tolerant and drought-tolerant once established. A 3-4 inch deep layer of mulch is a great idea to retain additional needed moisture.

Bluebeards bloom on this year's wood (new growth) and can be hard-pruned to maintain their trim shape. Growing as perennials in colder climates, leaving the foliage in place over winter to protect the crown from winter weather. In Zones 5 and 6, you can prune them back to the ground each spring before they start to grow. In Zones 7, 8, and 9, you can trim them back by half each year in early spring.

Full Sun & Partial Shade
Adaptable To A Variety Of Well-Drained Soils
Moderate to Low Moisture Needs
Blooms On New Wood - Prune Early Spring
Deer & Pest-Resistant

A Proven Winners® selection, Sunshine Blue® II Bluebeard is valued by many gardeners for its late-season color and blue-yellow color combo! You're sure to love it too! Now available at NatureHills.com!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will Sunshine Blue® II Bluebeard survive winter in zone 5 or colder climates?

Yes, Sunshine Blue® II Bluebeard is hardy in USDA zones 5-9. In zone 5 and colder areas, it acts as an herbaceous perennial, dying back to the ground in winter but returning from the roots in spring. Cut it back in late winter for best performance.

What are the light requirements for Sunshine Blue® II Bluebeard – full sun or part shade?

Sunshine Blue® II Bluebeard thrives in full sun conditions and loves hot, dry, sunny spots. This Caryopteris performs best with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily to produce its abundant blue flowers from late summer into fall. Shop at Nature Hills for this proven butterfly magnet that's perfect for sunny borders and rock gardens.

How often do I need to water Sunshine Blue® II Bluebeard after it's established?

Once established, Sunshine Blue® II Bluebeard is quite drought tolerant and needs minimal watering. This hardy shrub thrives in hot, dry, sunny locations across zones 5-9. Water deeply only during extended dry periods or when soil feels dry 2-3 inches down.

When and how should I prune or cut back Sunshine Blue® II Bluebeard?

Prune Sunshine Blue® II Bluebeard in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. In zones 5-6 where it acts like a perennial, cut stems back to 6 inches above ground. In warmer zones 7-9, remove about one-third of the plant's height to maintain its 2-3 foot size.

Is it safe to plant Sunshine Blue® II Bluebeard late in the season in cold zones?

Late-season planting of Sunshine Blue® II Bluebeard in zones 5-6 requires caution since it acts as an herbaceous perennial, dying back to ground level in winter. Plant at least 6-8 weeks before hard frost to establish roots. For best results in cold zones, shop at Nature Hills for spring planting.

Sunshine Blue® II Bluebeard

Caryopteris incana 'SMNCVH'