Make sure not to prune at the beginning of winter, as at that time, the stems become hollow, and pruning makes water accumulate within the branches, eventually freezing them from the inside. Lavender flowers and gray leaves of ‘Lochinch’ Buddleja. ‘Lochinch’ has sweet scented, light lavender-violet flowers and felted foliage with a silvery cast. They need plenty of sun, but will be fine with some shade in the warmer areas. Flower heads are white to lavender and 6 to 8 inches long. Of the hundreds of kinds of butterfly bushes in the world, most butterfly bush varieties available in commerce are variations of Buddleia davidii. Buddleias are semi-evergreen in areas, where minimum winter temperature does not fall beyond 20 degree F. In colder zones, where winter is harsh, the butterfly bush … 'Blue Chip' stays under three feet tall without any pruning, and blooms continuously from mid summer to frost without deadheading. Avoid fertilizing for about two months before the beginning of frost to prepare the plant for winter. • the hardiest butterfly bush- all the way to zone 5! How to Care for a Butterfly Bush The second issue with iron deficiency may need balancing the soil pH with lime and fertilizer. Butterfly bush are quite easy to grow, but you do need to know a bit about their preferences and requirements to achieve maximum success:. Just water well when the soil seems dry. It is very hardy and may remain evergreen in Zones 7-9. Use standard varieties of butterfly bush in the back of the border where their height will show to best effect and plant dwarf varieties along a garden path or in containers. At this time, remove all dead plant parts. It is possible to start a butterfly bush from branch cuttings, but it is more common to get a small plant from nursery so you can be sure that it will not turn invasive. Though some people find it particularly difficult to get rid of aphids, which might only go away when the plant regrows after a death spell in winter. Planting Butterfly Bushes and Initial Care. Photo by Karen Russ, ©2007 HGIC, Clemson Extension. Pesticide use on these shrubs is discouraged, particularly when in bloom, because of the wide variety of beneficial insects present at that time. ‘Dartmoor’ has mauve-to lilac-colored flowers borne on large, branched flower heads. Typical arching butterfly bush form in mid-summer. It has flat clusters of bright orange blossoms and blooms from early summer to first frost in most areas. Bright yellow flowers appear at a time of year when little else is in bloom. Drought-tolerant and ever-flowering, this variety grows up to 6-7 feet but has a relatively slow growth rate. These plants have a fibrous root system, instead of a taproot, which means the roots get their nutrients from the upper layers of soil. An easy background or accent plant with a compact habit, perfect for a sunny perennial border, cutting garden or container. Really a shrub, plants are best treated like perennials and pruned back hard each spring, to maintain a compact, bushy habit. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.This shrub should only be grown in Full Sunlight. It has all the fragrance and butterfly appeal of traditional varieties in a small, easy to maintain package. ‘Pink Delight’ flowers are a true pink on large panicles. It is great for mass plantings, containers or mixed into perennial gardens. You'll get unique, dark purple blooms up to twelve inches long! It is frost tolerant, non-invasive and very easy to grow. Thanks to the magic of cultivar developers, the flowers now come in a number of colors, including pink, yellow blue, and multicolors. The flowers are a nearly irresistible nectar source for butterflies, bees, lady beetles, and other pollinating insects as well as the occasional hummingbird. Although it can survive and grow in partial shade, it does best in full sun, producing fuller, vibrant flowers. Though quite low-maintenance otherwise, these plants do need an annual trimming and regular deadheading (snipping off any browning flower clusters in fall to encourage more flower-growth, and prevent self-seeding in fertile varieties). Though they can be planted with other sun-tolerant flowering plants, make sure to keep a 4-5 feet open space around the butterfly bush to permit yourself get close enough to the plant to deadhead them. The seed pods turn brown over time and are nice for adding winter interest to the garden. Once established, all the varieties are pretty tolerant to draught, and will only need watering during particularly long dry spells. According to the University of California, butterfly bush is non-toxic for humans, while the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) shows no evidence of it being poisonous to dogs, cats, and other pets. Buddleja fallowiana:This is one of the best butterfly bushes for foliage interest. Weedy seedlings should be dug-out where unwanted. All recommendations are for South Carolina conditions and may not apply to other areas. Plants can reach 10 to 15 feet tall, but can easily be maintained lower. Soft, felted leaves of sageleaf butterfly bush. Their stems are square in cross-section, and young shoots are covered by dense, white hairs. Buddleja davidii, commonly called butterfly bush, is a deciduous shrub that is native to thickets on mountain slopes, limestone outcrops, forest clearings and rocky stream banks in China. Pink Delight Butterfly Bush Buddleja davidii 'Pink Delight' Sku #1379. Butterfly bush (Buddleja/Buddleia) is a genus of hardy flowering plants that produce appealing fragrant flower heads known for attracting butterflies and other insects. The butterfly bush plants offered are of the Genus Buddleia davidii. It is a smaller shrub (4-5 feet) with gracefully arching branches and fragrant panicles. Lindley’s Butterfly Bush (Buddleja Lindleyana): This butterfly bush has small dark green leaves and lavender-purple flowers. In addition to feeding the plant, compost also helps the soil hold moisture for longer by enhancing the organic matter in it. When you have chosen a nice sunny location for your Butterfly Bush, planting is easy. The Best Plant for Attracting Wildlife The Black Knight Butterfly Bush is the most fragrant butterfly bush you can find. Avoid fall or winter pruning which increases the risk of cold damage. ‘White Profusion’ butterfly bush flower head. ‘Black Night’ is the most commonly available cultivar, and has dark purple flowers. It has highly textured … Copyright © 2020 Clemson UniversityClemson Cooperative Extension | 103 Barre Hall Clemson, SC 29634864-986-4310 | Contact UsHGIC@clemson.edu, College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, Centipedegrass Yearly Maintenance Program. 2. Types and Varieties of Butterfly Bush: 1. Sageleaf Butterfly Bush (Buddleja salviifolia): This species is grown primarily for its foliage. Hardiness Zone: 5 to 9. It flowers on the previous year’s wood and should be pruned after flowering. It has highly textured leaves that are coppery-green. Check with your local extension office prior to planting to ensure that the plant is permitted in your area. Removing old flowers will encourage new blooms. ‘Purple Haze’ Short bushy plants of 3-4 feet, these are suitable for hedges, ground covers, and indoor planting. Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under typical garden conditions. Required fields are marked *, Get email updates about what's new for gardeners this season. Like most shrubs, they benefit from a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch. Buddleja fallowiana: This is one of the best butterfly bushes for foliage interest. Overcrowding the area might make it difficult to handle any self-seeding variety. Hardiness Zone: 5 to 9. Leaves are opposite, 3 to 5 inches long by 1 to 3 inches wide, varying from deep green to gray-green to silvery-gray. Popular sizes of select trees are 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, etc. This butterfly bush produces purple flowers early in the season on the previous year’s wood and should be pruned after flowering. "Buzz Violet Blue" grows 3 feet tall and wide when grown in the ground, but in containers its final dimensions are 2 feet tall and wide. In most cases, keeping a good distance between two plants to keep them from becoming overcrowded, and spraying their leaves with water, and sometimes a liquid insecticide can help get rid of such problems. However, spider mites can be a problem when the plants are drought stressed. The plants have an arching habit that's appealing especially as a background in informal flower borders. Butterfly Bush is a butterfly favorite with its fragrant and vibrant blooms. These shrubs grow to 20 feet tall. ‘Alba’, the most commonly seen cultivar, is more compact than the species, with white flowers. They can easily grow up to 12 feet in only one or two growing seasons. Here is to planting and growing butterfly bushes in the landscape! In the first year after planting, these bushes need regular water to develop strong roots. This species will spread by suckers to colonize large areas. Avoiding the first problem can be as simple as keeping the soil well-drained, as its fibrous roots already make it less susceptible to root rot compare to deep rooted plants, as long as the soil is maintained properly. It attracts more butterflies and hummingbirds than any other plant. Butterfly bushes grow very fast and can reach mature size in 1 to 2 growing seasons. As mentioned above, they appear in invasive plant lists in many states of US, so check with the authorities before picking any variety. ‘Black Knight’ Produces relatively shorter, and one of the darkest shades of flowerheads, with the plants growing up to 15 feet in height. A dwarf butterfly bush grows up to 6 feet tall. Additionally, their flowers have a pleasant fragrance. Buzz Ivory Butterfly Bush is a prolific bloomer, loaded with fragrant ivory spikes and generous foliage. Where color is concerned, the many cultivars of butterfly bush have butterfly weed beat. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental s… Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. 3. ‘Ellen’s Blue’ is a dwarf form (4 feet) with blue-violet flowers. Most of these are also sterile, solving the weed problem to some extent. You don’t have to water it every day, especially during the rainy season. Root rot can be a common problem if the plant is made to sit in flooded conditions for long, while too much acidity in the soil can lead to iron deficiency, causing the leaves to turn yellow, with green veins. ‘Summer Beauty’ has deep, rose-pink flowers on a compact plant (to 4 feet) with silvery foliage. The butterfly bush is medium to large sized shrub that can be used in a perennial bed or as a hedge. This little butterfly bush really is a charmer! Despite having a good resistance against most bugs, the plant can be susceptible to conditions like downy mildew (fungal disease), and spider mites. The darkest butterfly bush flowers available. Drenching the air with a fruity scent, butterfly bush's flower spikes are an irresistible lure to butterflies and hummingbirds all summer long. Despite being perennials, most cultivars die in winter, especially in the Northern regions, with the roots growing fresh stems again the next season. Another thing worth knowing is that despite their name, they are not beneficial to butterflies in any way apart from offering their sweet nectar. It is advisable to buy from reputable nurseries as plants of his species are often mislabeled. None of the butterfly bushes serve even as a secondary host plant for any caterpillar. If you are growing your butterfly bush in a pot, keep it at a spot that receives a lot of direct sunlight. A mature butterfly bush typically reaches 6 to 10 feet tall with an equal spread. Plants can reach 10 to 15 feet tall, but can easily be maintained lower. Striking plants with golden leaves and dark gorgeous flowerheads. Many cultivars will flower from June through October (if deadheaded) with peak bloom in July and August. Follow all directions, precautions and restrictions that are listed. The foliage has a silvery cast. Produces relatively shorter, and one of the darkest shades of flowerheads, with the plants growing up to 15 feet in height, Short bushy plants of 3-4 feet, these are suitable for hedges, ground covers, and indoor planting, Comparatively non-invasive in nature, making it more suitable for ornamental gardening, With its stunning blue flowers and silver foliage, this is one of the most attractive varieties, growing around 2-3 feet, Produces orange-blue flowers later in summer, suitable for landscaping, growing up to around 12 feet when mature. Flowers are a pale lavender and not especially showy. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. The leaves of some cultivars are densely hairy underneath. Blue Chip. The seedless or sterile types like ‘Miss Ruby’, ‘Asian Moon’, and ‘Blue Chip’ are often preferred for this reason. Photo by Karen Russ, ©2007 HGIC, Clemson Extension. Butterfly bushes can reach 5 to 15 feet tall, depending on the cultivar. Use pesticides only according to the directions on the label. ‘Royal Red’ has long reddish-purple flowers and is extremely attractive to butterflies. The leaves are 2 to 4 inches long and heavily felted, giving a decidedly silver-gray overall appearance. Size, form and leaf color can vary widely by cultivar and should be considered when purchasing plants. Though some varieties can grow up to 12 feet in height, there are plenty of dwarf butterfly bush varieties that stay within 3-4 feet, producing equally attractive, and fragrant flowers. Flower heads are white to lavender and 6 to 8 inches long. The butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) is a beautiful, fast-growing, deciduous shrub with masses of blossoms—long, spiked trusses—that bloom from summer to autumn. Echinacea or coneflowers seem to do well with butterfly bushes as they have similar natural requirements and the two compliment each other. Deadheading the spent panicles before they go to seed provides a neater look to the plant, lengthens the bloom period, and prevents unwanted seedlings in the garden. Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device. Downy mildew, caused by the fungus Peronospora hariotii, may occur during cooler temperatures with extended leaf wetness on Buddleja x Weyeriana cultivars. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Your email address will not be published. If this document didn’t answer your questions, please contact HGIC at hgic@clemson.edu or 1-888-656-9988. Be forewarned, however, that you will likely end up with butterfly … ‘White Ball’ is considered the most dwarf butterfly bush, maxing-out at about 3 feet tall. Many varieties of butterfly bush can become quite large (up to 12' tall). Give butterfly bush about an inch of water a week while they’re actively growing, if rain isn’t sufficient, but don’t worry if you occasionally forget to irrigate. ‘Guinevere’ has vibrant purple-black, fragrant flowers and dark blue-green foliage. In warmer climates, butterfly bushes soon grow into trees and develop rugged trunks that peel. Another compact variety, the Blue Chip butterfly bush grows to around 2′ in height and width at full maturity. Propagating from seeds is often avoided for the same reason. They do not require constant fertilization. Photo by Karen Russ, ©2007 HGIC, Clemson Extension. ‘Attraction’ has magenta, nearly red flowers with attractive foliage. The one critical requirement is well-drained soil as their roots will quickly rot when waterlogged. Butterfly bushes form the foundation for numerous butterfly gardens and are prized for their long, summer bloom period. During the first growing season, make sure to keep the soil around the roots thoroughly moist, but not waterlogged. Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii – often spelled Buddleia) is a favorite shrub of many gardeners because of its colorful flowers and ability to attract a variety of beneficial insects. If it does not come back, trim it down to just around 6 inches from the ground. Aphids, wasps, and flies may also infest a butterfly bush. When and how to prune a butterfly bush is a topic that comes up quite a bit with our readers. NOTE: Butterfly bush is considered an invasive plant in many regions. They are quite valuable in ornamental gardening as apart from butterflies, insects and birds like ladybugs and hummingbirds also like these plants. Another non-invasive option like all the ‘miss’ varieties, suitable for garden borders, it produces closely-packed thin, long flowerheads, Grows fast, attaining heights of around 4-6 feet at maturity, the compact tiny white flowers are perfect for cuttings, Hardy plants with high watering needs; produces attractive thick lavender flowers, Growing around 8 feet tall, producing long pure white flowerheads, these look good when planted with bright colored flowers, Growing around 5-7 feet in both height and width, it is a good choice for mixed borders due to its non-invasive, hardy nature, Can reach up to 10-12 feet in height, mauve flowers are suitable for cuttings, With striking yellow-orange fragrant flowers, these 5-6 feet high plants are suitable for large gardens but do not survive in wet, cold conditions, Eight-inch flowerheads blooming around fall-summer, these plants are relatively shorter (5-6 feet), and suitable for growing in containers, Growing about 2-3 feet in height, and 4 feet in width, a good option for borders, Growing around 6 feet high, its branches tend to spread around, giving the plant a fuller appearance, A relatively new variety, 4-5 feet high when mature, it is ideal for mixed borders and small gardens, also suitable to be grown in containers, Dense shrubs suitable for hedges, these grow about 8 feet high, with bubblegum pink flowers, Dense, 2-3 feet tall shrubs with a somewhat rounded appearance, suitable for mixed garden hedges, flowers suitable for cuttings, One of the shorter varieties (4-5 feet), these are are non-invasive, with the flowers being suitable for cutting, Around 4-6 feet tall, the non-invasive variety with a rapid growth rate, it is suitable for sunny locations in gardens, An English butterfly bush variety, it grows around 4 feet high and 5 feet wide, producing dark blue flowerheads, Fast-growing plants, reaching up to 8 feet in height, producing bright yellow flowers, A small variety, it works well as ground cover, blooming around late summer, Another popular species of Buddleja, it produces orange ball-shaped flower clusters, Rather short, bushy plants growing about 4-5 feet tall, these are suitable for small gardens and indoor planting, Yet another species in the genus, it produces globule-shaped flowerheads, about ½ inch in diameter, with the plant growing up to 5 feet. Prepare the soil by loosening it, and apply some compost, Dig a hole that is twice as deep and wide as the root ball of the plant, Remove the plant from the container it came in, and gently ruffle the roots to free them up a little, and put the plant in the hole (the crown should be on the same level with the soil surface), When transplanting multiple plants in a row, keep them 5-10 feet apart from each other; dwarf varieties may be planted a little closer together, Water thoroughly to help the plant get settled. In northern regions, butterfly bushes die back to the ground in winter, so wait till late in spring to make sure if it is dead. Butterfly bushes are amazingly tough plants and grow well under a variety of conditions. Join our mailing list to receive the latest updates from HGIC. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground. The Asian Moon Butterfly Bush is another sterile hybrid produced by breeders in Arkansas from several species. Check your plant for signs like wilted leaves as it indicates a need for water. The shrubs are essentially round in outline and form an excellent backdrop for perennial borders. Design Ideas Dwarf butterfly bush is perfect for bringing butterflies into the garden and up close to the house. ... Plants may be taller than the height minimums. Product Link : Miss Molly Butterfly Bush. Seeds form after flowering and the dark seed heads are generally considered unattractive. It is a very hardy, rapid growing, tall plant (13 to 15 feet) with a weeping habit. There are an overwhelming number of cultivars available and also a number of related species and hybrids. where the stems meet the roots). Standard butterfly bush cultivars grow 6 to 10 feet tall and 4 to 10 feet wide, but dwarf varieties are usually half the size or smaller. The first butterfly bush variety to produce multi-colored blossoms of lavender, yellow, and orange, it is quite tolerant of drought and heat, A dwarf variety (2-3 feet), it has a compact appearance with sturdy branches that can survive cold weathers better than most other short varieties; considered non-invasive, A miniature, non-invasive butterfly bush, it is a hardy plant with a fast growth rate, A taller variety, growing up to 12 feet, it is one of the butterfly bushes less tolerant to winter. Generally hardy in nature, they do not take too much hard work and can get established in almost any type of well-drained soil. Butterfly bushes are crazy fast growers. Sageleaf Butterfly Bush (Buddleja salviifolia): This species is grown primarily for its foliage. long, slender flower clusters) in white, blue, lavender, pink, purple, yellow and many intermediate shades. Particularly attractive along picket fences and lattice where airy open character is a good fit. ‘Alba’, the most commonly seen cultivar, is more compact than the species, with white flowers. Butterfly Bush Characteristics The fast-growing butterfly bush reaches a mature height of 6 to 10 feet tall in one or two growing seasons. In the warmer states, butterfly bushes often grow to 10 or 12 ft. high, and require pruning to keep them shapely. Pugster® Periwinkle Butterfly Bush will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. Moreover, they are all deer resistant. They produce 5- to 12-inch-long panicles (i.e. It is hardy in zones 5 through 9, the blue-chip is best suited to growing in full sun. This should be done before new growth begins in the spring since they flower on new growth. All recommendations for pesticide use are for South Carolina only and were legal at the time of publication, but the status of registration and use patterns are subject to change by action of state and federal regulatory agencies. They are amazingly tough, hardy to minus 20 degrees F. (-28 C.), yet tolerant of far warmer climates. So, they are not suitable if you want a low-maintenance evergreen garden. When we say full sun, we mean it – butterfly bush require a minimum of 8 hours of bright sunlight. White flowers cover plant all summer. Although butterfly bush is attractive to adult butterflies, it has no food value for native caterpillars … In fact, pruning butterfly bushes to within one foot of the ground annually enhances the flower display. Alternate-leaf Butterfly Bush (Buddleja alternifolia): This species is a deciduous shrub with alternate leaves unlike other Buddlejas. Spectacular summer color from conical clusters of fragrant, bright pink flowers. 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