Plant Caryopteris in a sunny, well-drained spot—it's not tolerant of wet or heavy soils, especially in winter. Improve drainage before planting if needed by adding grit or organic matter. These small, deciduous shrubs prefer a sheltered site and do best against a warm wall or in a border that gets plenty of sun.

Once established, they’re drought-tolerant and low maintenance. In early spring, cut back all flowered stems hard to a low, woody framework to encourage strong new growth. After pruning, apply a 2-3in (5-7cm) mulch of well-rotted compost to help retain moisture and boost soil nutrients.