The Butterfly Bush...a shrub-like perennial with scent of a lilac for the flower garden beds...

About The Butterfly Bush

The Butterfly Bush or Buddleia can be an unruly shrub-like perennial, yet oh so fragrant. Why not plant a Buddleia or two and watch the butterflies and hummingbirds swarm for the nectar of this honey sweet fragrant bush. This bush is sometimes called the Summer Lilac and I can certainly understand why. The sweet scented purple blooms are so similar to the lilac and so is the honey fragrance.

Although this Buddleia Bush can become unruly in the garden...I love it. I planted mine, the Nanho Blue variety (I grouped 3 plants together) in the South Garden, which was a mistake. This fragrant bush requires lots of sun and well drained soil. Although it grew and many purple blossoms arrived, the butterfly and hummingbird magnet did not survive the winter.

Since this bush does not like to be moved, I removed two taller cedars that I had planted beside them. The cedars looked pitiful anyway and I was happy to be rid of them. I was hoping that this removal would give the sweet scented bushes the additional sun. It did not work.

Another fact of the shrub-like sun loving perennial is that after it rains the willowy branches can hang low for awhile, but don't worry the narrow branches will spring up again.

The Butterfly Bush is rarely bothered by pests in the garden and would make a great shrub anchor for any perennial flower bed. If the shrub has plenty of blooms, why not cut a few and take indoors. The blossoms make very good cut flowers.

Since the Butterfly Bush grows a little untidy, it is difficult to give advice on companion planting. In most cases this shrub is best planted on its own and toward the back of the flowerbed garden as an anchor plant. However, I have planted the Ninebark shrub closeby as well as the Baby Joe Pye Weed.

Check out my Site Index Page for a listing of additional annuals and perennials to plant in your flower garden design.

Butterfly Bush Features

• bright purple-blue flowers
• narrow branches
• very fragrant, honey scented
• not too neat and tidy of a bush
• likes full sun
• plant where it has room to grow
• cut off the spent blooms to keep it blooming, but check for the variety. Some cannot be deadheaded since they bloom on their old wood
• willow-like leaves
• attracts (a magnet for) butterflies and hummingbirds. I can attest to that statement
• very slow to get going in the spring, so don't give up on it too quickly. It is usually the last to break through the soil
• this genus includes over 100 species and cultivars

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