More like 'eternal' than 'perennial' when they're happy. They spread by seed or sharply-pointed runners which will easily go through the bulbs of other more-preferred species. And their older bulbs can go down 12" or more, like a string of beads. Do brilliantly in a sandy/silty soil. Don't mind shade but you'll get more leaves than flowers. Calistoga is not kidding. They're delightful - in someone else's garden.

When I click on the links, I see " page not found". Can you copy and paste the html line here in the message portion so we can see them. The photos can be together and visible for everyone.

Actually, caryopteris blooms rather late in the season. My caryopteris 'worcester gold' is getting ready to bloom now. I grow 'Snow Fairy' in the shade. In the sun it got too white for my liking. I don't get blooms in the shade, but I don't mind. When I had it in the sun the first year, I didn't think the blooms were much to write home about anyway. It gets bigger than this. This is an older pic. Yes, Carol is a plant id whiz!!! I recognize her name from the NameThatPlant forum.

I've had one venerable plant now for 10 years. I used to be zone 5 until a re-zoning a few years back and I'm now technically zone 6 but it's hit or miss what zone 6 plants will work for me. Sooooooo the secret - drainage - especially in the winter. Plus you need to stick to the most hardy of the lavenders like "munstead." FataMorgana