Something blue — and a little pink, too

Beyond Midnight bluebeard has dark, glossy foliage and deep blue flowers. (Photo provided by Elena Fennell)
Beyond Midnight bluebeard has dark, glossy foliage and deep blue flowers. (Photo provided by Elena Fennell)

If you are looking for a small, flowering shrub that tolerates drought and heat while attracting pollinators, look no further than bluebeard. No, I am not talking about the French folklore tale from the 1600s. I’m talking about a low, mounding deciduous shrub from the mint family. Commonly known as bluebeard or blue mist shrub (Caryopteris x clandonensis), it is a hybrid cross originally found in …