Cultivating Buddleia (Butterfly Bush): A Step-by-Step Guide
Buddleia, commonly known as the butterfly bush, is a popular choice for gardeners due to its vibrant blooms and attractiveness to pollinators. In recent years, several compact varieties have been developed, making them excellent candidates for container gardens on patios, decks, or balconies.
One such variety is the Butterfly Candy® Lil' Grape™, a compact, heat-loving plant that grows 2-3 feet tall and wide, producing fragrant purple blooms from spring to fall. It is deer resistant and ideal for containers. Another recommended choice is the Butterfly Candy® Series, which includes five dazzling, compact varieties designed specifically for container gardening. They thrive in sunny, warm conditions and provide nonstop blooms throughout the summer into fall.
The Proven Winners ‘Miss’ Series and ‘Low and Behold’ Series are also popular for container gardening. The former includes ‘Miss Ruby’ (ruby red), ‘Miss Molly’ (deep pink), and ‘Miss Violet’ (purple), which can grow 4-6 feet tall but can be kept shorter with pruning. They bloom vibrantly from summer until frost and suit sunny container spots. The ‘Low and Behold’ Series, on the other hand, includes naturally low-growing mounding types reaching 2-3 feet, such as ‘Purple Haze’ (purple), ‘Pink Micro Chip’ (pink), and ‘Blue Chip Junior’ (medium blue).
For those seeking a more unique option, the Chrysalis Blue Butterfly Bush stays under 3 feet tall, perfect for containers or tight spaces. Its sterile flowers prevent invasive reseeding and it offers a long blooming period. Other options include ‘Asian Moon’, ‘Birthday Cake’, and ‘Blueberry Pie’, each offering striking colors and compact growth habits.
For best results, plant these varieties in full sun with well-drained organic potting soil and prune as needed to maintain size and shape. It is also important to note that while Buddleia can be invasive, if pruned and maintained in the garden they should not cause a problem.
In addition to their compact growth habits and bloom longevity, these varieties also attract butterflies and provide season-long color. Buddleia is an easy and fast-growing shrub that can be propagated from semi-ripe cuttings in summer and hardwood cuttings in autumn. Flowers of Buddleia come in a wide range of colors, including purple, blue, pink, white, and yellow.
One notable variety is Buddleja alternifolia, which has received the prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM) from the Royal Horticultural Society. It features slender and arching branches bearing dense clusters of soft lilac-purple or pink fragrant flowers. Another interesting variety is Buddleja davidii 'Santana', which boasts variegated leaves and wine-red flowers from July to September.
To ensure continuous blooming, it is recommended to deadhead flowers and to cut back hard in late spring to prevent the Buddleia shrub from becoming too big. Overall, these versatile and stunning plants are a great addition to any container garden.
**Summary Table:**
| Variety/Series | Mature Height | Flower Color(s) | Key Features | |---------------------------|----------------------|------------------------------|----------------------------------| | Butterfly Candy Lil' Grape™ | 2-3 ft | Purple | Compact, deer resistant, heat-loving | | Butterfly Candy® Series | Compact (varies) | Multiple colors | Continuous blooms, sun-loving | | Proven Winners ‘Miss’ Series | 4-6 ft (prunable) | Ruby red, deep pink, purple | Vibrant, long bloom season | | Proven Winners ‘Low and Behold’ | 2-3 ft | Purple, pink, medium blue | Naturally low, mounding | | Chrysalis Blue | Under 3 ft | Blue | Sterile flowers, non-invasive | | Asian Moon | ~6 ft | Purple with orange eyes | Shrub-like, striking flowers | | Birthday Cake | ~5 ft | Rich purple | Candle-like flowers | | Blueberry Pie | ~3 ft | Violet blue with white eyes | Compact, striking colors |
These choices ensure a manageable plant size for containers while attracting butterflies and providing season-long color.
The Butterfly Candy Lil' Grape™, a compact option for container gardening, grows 2-3 feet tall and wide, producing fragrant purple blooms that liven up your container gardens from spring to fall. Another container-friendly choice, the Butterfly Candy® Series, includes five dazzling, compact varieties designed for sunny and warm conditions, providing nonstop blooms throughout the summer into fall.
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