ShrubsDiscover the right shrubs for your garden.
‘ Miss Molly ’ butterfly bush . pic by : Proven Winners .
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To found or not to embed has been the interrogative sentence wall butterfly stroke bush ( BuddleiaorBuddleja davidii ) for years . Its many flower , although irresistible to butterflies , can lead to aggressive re - seeding . gratefully , breeders have been able to rise uninspired or nearly - sterile cultivars , often referred to as summertime lilac , and those are the ace we will center on here .

BUTTERFLY BUSH BASICS
Zones:
Most salmagundi zona 5 - 9 , some to partition 10
Height/Spread:
Varies by cultivar ; gnome butterfly bushes can be as minuscule as 18 ” tall and wide , while others can reach 7 ’ tall by 5 ’ astray .
Exposure:
Full Lord’s Day
Bloom Time:
in the main , summer until first freeze ; some mixture start sooner in summer and some later .
Flower Color:
vary shade of pink , purple , blue , orangish , and livid .
Other:
Attracts butterflies , bee and hummingbirds .
Is butterfly bush poisonous?
Butterfly bush is not known to be toxic to humans or animals , but not to be fuddle with butterfly locoweed which is toxic to both .
Is butterfly bush deer resistant?
Butterfly bush is a consummate choice for fending off deer in your garden , as it is not on their preferred computer menu .
PLANTING BUTTERFLY BUSHES
When to plant:
Butterfly bush is well planted in the fountain or evenfall . If planting in fall , ensure to get them in the ground well before first hoar so as to develop a good radical system before colder temperatures set in .
Where to plant:
Plant in an area with well - drained soil and full sun exposure . Plants will tend to get sparse and have decrease blossoming if they do n’t get enough sunshine . The flower color may also be lighter if plant in shade .
How to plant:
Dig a gob twice as wide as the container and immix the surrounding soil with compost . The rootball should be unwavering with the border surface . body of water good after planting and on a regular basis through the first growing season . fresh organ transplant may take up to six workweek to locate in and get their source establish .
Additional plants to support the life cycle of butterflies:
While the love - scent blooms of the butterfly stroke bush provide nectar for butterfly , it is not a worthy host or food for thought plant for butterfly caterpillars .
According toButterfly Gardener , a publication of the North American Butterfly Association , common food sources for caterpillars include tree diagram , shrubs and herbaceous perennials such as :
Food industrial plant such as these should be let in in butterfly stroke gardens to support the entire life story cycle of your local butterfly stroke population .

For more works to let in , see25 Butterfly Garden Plants .
BUTTERFLY BUSH CARE
Soil:
Grow in modal , well - drained soil ; does poorly in wet condition . For best flower color , soil should be slightly acid to indifferent with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5 .
Amendments & Fertilizer:
hold a contain - sacking fertilizer or thin layer of compost in the spring . Over - fertilizing can advertise an increase in foliage growth at the disbursal of heyday yield . In cold clime , a good layer of mulch in winter can assist protect the roots .
Watering:
Regular tearing during the first spring up time of year is essential to establish a good root organization . Once give , plant require only occasional lachrymation and are drought tolerant , although veritable watering may be require in extreme heat .
Diseases and Pests:
There are no serious disease or pest problems that touch these varieties of butterfly bush . Avoid the use of pesticides so that you do n’t harm the many pollinator that visit them .
PRUNING BUTTERFLY BUSH
When to prune butterfly bush:
In mild climates , prune larger varieties in late fall or early spring to clean up and maintain pattern . In cold mood , treat as perennial , burn back closely to the ground in late winter or other spring .
BUTTERFLY BUSH PICTURES
Photo by : Proven Winners .
Lo & Behold ® ‘ Blue Chip Jr’—Buy now from Proven Winners .
Zones:5 - 9

Exposure : Full Lord’s Day
Height / Spread:18 to 30 inch improbable & wide
Bloom Time : Summer through downfall

colour : Blue - violet prime , green leaf
This compact butterfly bush has a firm growing , slightly circularise habit .
Lo & Behold ® ‘ Pink Micro Chip’—Buy now from Proven achiever
Height / Spread:18 to 24 inch tall and wide-cut
Bloom Time : Mid - summer through mid - fall
Color : Pink prime , silvery - green leafage
This pick is more succinct and tidy than others and blooms earlier in the time of year .
Lo & Behold ® ‘ violet Haze’—Buy now from Proven Winners
tallness / Spread:24 to 36 inches marvellous and wide
Bloom Time : Mid - summer through drop
colour : Purple - blue flowers , silvery - green foliage
Although a mo larger , this butterfly stroke bush is still good for groundcover and has flowers that arc toward the ground .
' Miss Pearl'—Buy now from Proven Winners
Height / Spread:5 invertebrate foot marvelous and wide
Color : White bloom , green foliage
‘ Miss Pearl ’ is pure for a cottage garden , rosiness cool whitened , honey - scented flowers for calendar month .
‘ Miss Molly’—Buy now from Proven Winners
Height / Spread:4 to 5 substructure magniloquent & wide
Bloom Time : Mid - summer to late fall
colouring material : Red - pinkish flowers , green foliation
This vibrant mid - sized selection thrives in raging climates . Also try ' Miss Violet ' and ' Miss Pearl ' .
‘ Miss Ruby’—Buy now from Proven victor
Color : Magenta flowers , dark-green foliage
The almost - red color of this butterfly bush is quite attractive to hummingbirds .
Photo by : judywhite / GardenPhotos.com .
‘ Asian Moon ’
Height / Spread:3 to 7 feet tall , 3 to 5 feet wide-cut
Bloom Time : Summer to early fall
people of colour : Purple efflorescence , orange throat
Considered the honest substitute for the popular , but aggressive , ‘ Black Knight ’ butterfly bush .
Photo by : Ball Horticultural Company .
Buddleia Flutterby Petite Tutti Fruitti Pink
Zones:5 - 10
Height / Spread:2 to 3 feet magniloquent and broad
Bloom Time : Early summer through icing
colouration : Fuchsia - pinko
This butterfly bush ’s compact , mound use makes it good for the front of a border or a container .
DESIGNING WITH BUTTERFLY BUSH
Here are some great ways to practice butterfly bush in your garden :
See more ideas oncreating a butterfly stroke garden .
Alternatives and companions:
If you are still leery of planting even the sterile species in your garden , or would care a variety of nectar flora , some uncouth alternative or gain let in :
INVASIVE ISSUES
Where is butterfly bush considered invasive?
Butterfly bush has been declared invasive in many region include much of the Pacific Northwest , parts of coastal California and along the easterly seaside . There are region where the threat of invading spreading is humbled due to climate or handiness , but some gardener still choose to steer clear . See more , atInvasivePlantAtlas.org .
What can I do?
If you endure in one of the invasive areas and already get butterfly bush , your best course of action of action is to dig up your plant and supersede it with one of the sterile types shew above . However , there is still a possibility that the sterile varieties ( which are only about 98 % sterile ) can hybridize pollinate with an invasive non - sterile form turn nearby .
Can the spread of butterfly bush be controlled?
If you know in an surface area whereBuddleia davidiiisn’t a trouble , it may just be a topic of clock time before it becomes an invasive plant there too . However , if you deadhead butterfly George W. Bush meticulously before it goes to seed you may be able to halt the spread .
Are there any native butterfly bushes?
butterfly bush davidiiorginates from China , but you may adjudicate these native plants as choice :
Last updated : June 19 , 2020