Butterfly Bush

The butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) is a beautiful, fast-growing, deciduous shrub with masses of blossoms— typically long, spiked trusses—that bloom from summer to autumn. The shrub is low-maintenance, only requiring dead-heading and annual pruning in late winter to encourage flowers and a compact shape.
Despite the “butterfly” name, keep in mind that this shrub is not a host plant for butterflies in that it does not support butterfly reproduction and life-cycle. Caterpillars do not feed on butterfly bushes; rather, it only provides nectar to adult butterflies. If you do have a butterfly bush, be sure to add native host plants such as milkweed, aster, and dill if you want the butterflies to stay.

Please call the nursery for availability each season.

PLANTING BUTTERFLY BUSHES

Buddleias need full sun and fertile, well-drained soil.
Plant in spring or in fall before frost.
Loosen the soil, mix in compost, and dig a hole twice the diameter of the plant container.
When placing the plant in the hole, the top of the rootball should be level with the soil surface
Water thoroughly.

CARING FOR BUTTERFLY BUSHES

Water freely when in growth and sparingly otherwise. In the summer, water if rainfall is less than 1 inch per week.
Avoid fertilizing butterfly bushes; too much fertility promotes leaf growth over flower production.
Remove spent flower spikes to encourage new shoots and flower buds.
In addition, it is important to deadhead the flowers just as they start to wither so that this invasive plant doesn’t spread volunteer seeds. Deadheading is now required in many states.
Each spring, apply a thin layer of compost and mulch to retain moisture and control weeds.
In cold, Northern climates, spread mulch up to 6 inches deep around the trunk to nurture it through the winter.
Buddleias are very late to break dormancy, so don’t be in a hurry to assess winter damage.
The bush should bloom abundantly even in its first year. In warmer climates, the bushes will grow into trees and develop rugged trunks that peel; peeling is normal.
In the northern limit of their range, they behave as herbaceous perennials, dying back to the root in cold winters.

Adonis Blue

Zone:
Average Size: ' Tall & Wide
Flower:
Bloom Time:
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant:

Black Knight

Zone: 5-9
Average Size: 6' Tall & Wide; Compact, dense form
Flower: Deep blue-violet with red-orange eye; foliage is a pastel gray-green to blue-green
Bloom Time:
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant:

Blue Heaven

Zone:
Average Size: ' Tall & Wide
Flower:
Bloom Time:
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant:

Cranrazz

Zone: 5-10
Average Size: 5-6' Tall & 4-5' Wide
Flower: Long spikes feature bright cran-rasberry florets; foliage is yellow-green
Bloom Time: Spring through mid-Fall
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant:

Dapper Pink

Zone:
Average Size: ' Tall & Wide
Flower:
Bloom Time:
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant:

Dapper White

Zone:
Average Size: ' Tall & Wide
Flower:
Bloom Time:
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant:

Inspired Pink

Zone:
Average Size: ' Tall & Wide
Flower:
Bloom Time:
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant:

Inspired Violet

Zone:
Average Size: ' Tall & Wide
Flower:
Bloom Time:
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant:

Inspired White

Zone:
Average Size: ' Tall & Wide
Flower:
Bloom Time:
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant:

Lo & Behold Blue Chip

Zone:
Average Size: ' Tall & Wide
Flower:
Bloom Time:
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant:

Lo & Behold Ice Chip

Zone:
Average Size: ' Tall & Wide
Flower:
Bloom Time:
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant:

Lo & Behold Pink Micro Chip

Zone:
Average Size: ' Tall & Wide
Flower:
Bloom Time:
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant:

Miss Molly

Zone: 5-9
Average Size: 4-5' Tall
Flower: Long spikes feature rich and unique, deep magenta; light green foliage
Bloom Time:
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant:

Miss Pearl

Zone: 5-9
Average Size: 4-5' tall, semi-dwarf habit
Flower: Long spikes feature crisp, clean, pure white, honey-scented florets; green foliage
Bloom Time:
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant:

Miss Ruby

Zone: 5-9
Average Size: 4-5' Tall & Wide
Flower: Long spikes feature rich pink flowers; green foliage
Bloom Time: Summer
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant:

Miss Violet

Zone: 5-9
Average Size: 4-5' Tall
Flower: Bright purple; light green foliage
Bloom Time:
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant:

Nanho Blue

Zone: 5-9
Average Size: 6' Tall
Flower: Periwinkle flowers; gray-green to blue-green foliage
Bloom Time:
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant:

Nanho Purple

Zone: 5-9
Average Size: 6' Tall
Flower: Long spikes feature lavender flowers; gray-green to blue-green foliage
Bloom Time:
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant:

Nanho White

Zone: 5-9
Average Size: 6' Tall, Compact, dense form
Flower: Long spikes feature white flowers; gray-green to blue-green foliage
Bloom Time:
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant:

Pink Delight

Zone: 5-9
Average Size: 6' Tall, Compact, dense form
Flower: Pink florets; gray-green to blue-green foliage
Bloom Time:
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant:

Pugster Amethyst

Zone:
Average Size:
Flower: Long spikes feature light purple florets with a yellow-orange eye; bright green foliage
Bloom Time:
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant:

Pugster Blue

Zone:
Average Size:
Flower: Long spikes feature blue florets with a yellow-orange eye; gray-green foliage
Bloom Time:
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant:

Pugster Periwinkle

Zone:
Average Size:
Flower: Light, warm purple florets with a yellow-orange eye; green foliage
Bloom Time:
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant:

Pugster Pink

Zone:
Average Size:
Flower: Bright pink florets with a yellow-orange eye; bright green foliage
Bloom Time:
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant:

Pugster White

Zone:
Average Size:
Flower: Long spikes feature white florets with a yellow-orange eye; bright green foliage
Bloom Time:
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant:

Royal Red

Zone: 5-9
Average Size: 6' Tall, Compact, dense form
Flower: Long spikes feature rich, red-violet flowers; gray-green to blue-green foliage
Bloom Time:
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant:

Trippy Pink

Zone:
Average Size: ' Tall & Wide
Flower:
Bloom Time:
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant:

Tutti Fruitti

Zone:
Average Size: ' Tall & Wide
Flower:
Bloom Time:
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant:

Butterfly Bush White Profusion

Zone: 5-9
Average Size: 6-10' Tall
Flower: Long spikes feature low to medium fragrant white flowers with a yellow eye; gray-green to blue-green foliage
Bloom Time:
Light: Full Sun
Deer Resistant: