how about the link for some die back

and then check out this one:

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/shrubs/msg0518361424741.html?2

got them both at arrowhead alpines, out brighton way .... whats yours... plain old green.. lol ...

i have no clue what to tell you.. w/o a pic to ponder ... do you ever post pix??... yeah.. i recall the front door JMap ....

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link

I've had dark night for some time now, much longer than 5 years, and it still comes back strong. I would suspect something about this past winter made it unhappy. If it is growing really well, you probably won't even know anything happened by later in the summer. If the growth is weak, then maybe it should be replaced.
What is IIRC?
Remy

Hmm, well, mine does definitely sprout from old wood, so it's not dying completely back over winter. It is "Dark Knight" - common cultivar.

Have been to Arrowhead Alpines couple of times - nice afternoon trip with gardening buddies :0) Got a few Hosta plantiginea grandiflora there a handful of years ago - I so look forward to the scent of those flowers!

I post pics occasionally, guess you never noticed...

Remy: IIRC = if I recall correctly

Wonder if I should fertilize it - ?

I had Blue Mist Caryopteris for a few years. Got tired of the dieback & slow regrowth and finally pulled it out.

Several factors caused the problems, I think.

1)This was some years back and we had several very cold winters in a row, but not much snow cover, with lots of ice & slush at begining & end of winter, followed by cold wet very late springs. (Except for last winter, the past 3 or 4 winters previous to last year, were pretty mild for Michigan.)

2. Lots of cold wet clay that drained too slow for this partictular shrub.

3. Short good weather seasons, so it was plunged back quickly into poor conditions and did not have time to fully recover.

I had the same problem with Butterfly bushes (agree with Ken on BBs), but of course I HAD to try a number of varieties over the years. They are just not really suitable plants for my particular Michigan garden climate. Hopefully, you will have better luck, MXK!

MXK,
Never saw that abbreviation before. Thanks.
Dark Knight! I knew that, lol.
Remy

interesting... I have had 'Worcester Gold' for many years, and I noticed last year it really never really filled out much. I attributed it to an extremely dry season. This year I'm still waiting too, but weather has been normal. I always cut it back hard in March/April. I forget how long it should take to grow out again, but I think it should be bigger by now. Maybe I'll give it a top dressing of compost or something.

I've tried various cultivars at least 3-4 times. I've never had one live more than 4 years.

I was interested to see this topic. I too lost my 'Worcester Gold' this year, it was maybe 3 years old. I was sad, it started out okay, then started wilting, then I just had to yank. Dark knight, about same age or a year older is still okay. I wish I would've tried to propogate the Worcester before composting. But I too hate the slow growth (so it seems) for the first 6-8 weeks. I love them in fall though.

amy

I just read that you should cut it back every spring (like buddleia). I've never grown it though.

This April when I pruned back my caryopteris (don't know the cultivar), I stuck a bunch of the prunings right into the soil, as David52 on here advised in an old thread. Out of about eight 8" pencil-thick pieces that I did this with, three have rooted and are leafing out and making new plants. So I guess one can just do this each year to ensure a supply of these.

Here is a link that might be useful: old thread

Well at least you guys are making me feel better about not being able to grow this shrub. lol