Butterfly Bushes

Butterfly bushes tend to gather the interest of humans, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The birds and insects come in search of the sweet nectar and we humans are attracted to the bright flower colors of blues, reds, purples, and other color combinations. Buddleias emit a fragrance that attracts butterflies like moths to a flame. The butterfly bush plants offered are of the Genus (Buddleia davidii). Butterfly bushes can reach 5 to 15 feet tall, depending on the cultivar. The butterfly bush is medium to large sized shrub that can be used in a perennial bed or as a hedge. They usually bloom from Mid-July through frost. The abundant flower spikes, some describe them as bottle-brush flowers; exude a fragrance much like lilacs. Butterfly bushes are fast growing and can reach 4 to 5 feet in the second year after planting. In northern climates they may die back to the ground during the winter and then sprout new growth in the spring.

Butterfly bushes are easy to care for and easy to grow. They do not require quality soils and can perform very well in marginal soils. Buddleia davidii tolerates urban pollution and alkaline soils. Butterfly bushes can be pruned to the ground in the late fall and the blooms tend to be more prolific and larger on the plants new growth. Some butterfly bushes bloom on old wood so if you desire blooms, prune after they flower. Allow at least 6 feet of space between bushes because of the tendency for the branches to arch away from the center. Dead flowers need hand-picked off of the stems because they will not fall off on their own. For continued boom, the old flowers should be removed to encourage new growth and more flowers. We offer several varieties of butterfly bushes and they a listed below.