Caryopteris, Bluebeard, Blue Mist Spirea 'Snow Fairy'

This plant's principal virtue is its exceptionally beautiful variegated foliage that stands out from the other greens in the landscape. T...Read Morehe overall effect is gray-silver. Even the "green" leaf centers are really more gray-green. Unlike many variegated plants, the color does not fade in the heat of summer.

The fragrance is negligible unless you bruise the foliage. To my nose, this smells like the famously stinky Asian fruit durian.

The small blue flowers are pretty on close inspection but do not read well in the garden.

This species is entirely herbaceous and not the least bit shrubby. Very late to emerge from dormancy in the spring, like a platycodon. Grows 3-4' tall and as wide.

Tolerates part shade well. Needs good drainage. May be propagated by division in spring.

Armitage gives Z6 as the northern hardiness limit.

I felt I was pushing the zone 4 boundaries by planting this, but it is doing well here. It took a couple of summers to get going, and I...Read More didn't help at all because I moved it during that time. It is now a lovely specimen and extremely low-maintenance and trouble-free. The flowers are very pretty, but quite tiny and not terribly noticeable -- that's fine because the foliage really steals the show.
Update 2013: This plant/shrub is a delight. The foliage is gorgeous, and I take back what I said about the flowers. They are tiny, but very interesting and the effect of the dark royal purple and lighter purple shades against the foliage is simply stunning.

Updated 8/10/13

I planted this in 2011 in late summer. Now in 2013 it is about 3 feet wide and tall. The blossoms last y...Read Moreear were barely noticeable (hasn't bloomed yet this year) but even if it never bloomed I would keep it for the foliage alone, which positively glows against a dark background. The foliage looks very delicate but it is tough, tolerating long dry spells for me. When other plants are looking stressed by heat and low rainfall, this one looks fresh as a daisy. The only slightly negative comment I have is the odor when the leaves are bruised, rather like a strong smell of green peppers to me, not pleasant but tolerable. People seem to perceive the smell in different ways judging by the comments here. It is well worth having despite this minor drawback.

The foliage compensates for the lack of size and showiness in the flowers. Agree with previous note, finding the odor neither entirely o...Read Moreffensive nor especially fragrant. Probably would've chosen a different variety had this one not been on the clearance rack; however, the variegation does add some diversity to the border and the plant has been relatively maintenance free.