"...it might have been you that got me into Caryopteris a couple of seasons ago."

HAHA yea that happens....

I did not have as much trouble with Caryopteris at my other house. I had the same clump for a very long time, never had to replace it. Here, it's a constant battle that I'm tired of fighting.

I will post pics of it when it is finally in bloom.

^^ Please do! I can at least live vicariously though you :0p

I love this plant, tried it 3 times years ago, and it turned up its toes and died every time. Very upsetting, as the blue is gorgeous and uncommon in the garden... But I subscribe to the reality that if you kill something three times, give up! (bah humbug)

On the other hand!! Rouge has made me re-think getting one again and getting it through the winter here in MA. If she has luck storing it during the cold months up north, then mayhap I can as well. I am excited thinking about it. =)

For the past 3 or 4 years, I have stored my Asiatic lilies over winter in their huge pots on my deck, where they reside all summer. They have just finished blooming for this year. Since I really don't have space for 50+ lily bulbs in any of my gardens, to say nothing of the critters who munch on those bulbs in-ground, this has worked well for me. I bought some double-sided insulating material from which I enclose the pots completely and open them up in the spring to flourish for another year. It has worked brilliantly and will be done again and again.

Now off to find a supplier of Caryopteris! Yay! (Must keep spending down the kids' inheritance, lol)

Thabks cor the reminder to take loppers to the dead barbells on mine. Roxanna, why dont you sink your pots in the ground?

kitasei - because I don't have much free space left in-ground! lolol

My experience with Caryopteris is also that it tends to die back after even moderate winters (to the low single digits), and that the chartreuse/gold-leafed varieties are especially touchy in temperate climates. We have two remaining green-leafed cultivars, and while hanging on, they aren't actually flourishing.

me too, Porks. It was the yellowing leafage which did for me...and yep, the overall spindly meh effect.

My only experience with this plant has it being 'permanently' potted. And so far I have enjoyed it lots as a late summer bloomer, with zero dieback the past two winters. If I do lose it at some point I will for sure replace it.

Hey @porkchop_z5b_MI, I noticed yesterday that my potted plant is now starting to bloom:

^^ Lucky you -- very nice! I bet the bees are quite enjoying it, too.