Buddleias, commonly known as butterfly bushes, are a favorite among gardeners for good reason. Their vibrant flowers not only add a splash of color to any garden but also attract butterflies and other pollinators, making them a vital addition to any landscape. This comprehensive guide is designed to assist everyone, from seasoned horticulturists to enthusiastic beginners.
Inside, youll find all the essential information needed to successfully plant, cultivate, and care for these stunning shrubs. We’ll cover everything from choosing the right variety and planting techniques to optimal watering and pruning practices. With this guide, you’ll be equipped to create a flourishing Buddleia garden that will thrive and enchant both you and your local wildlife. Get ready to transform your outdoor space into a colorful haven that celebrates nature!
The Black Knight Buddleia is a sought-after deciduous shrub, celebrated for its striking dark purple flowers that bloom in mid-summer, drawing in butterflies and hummingbirds alike. This fast-growing variety can reach impressive heights and widths of up to 10 feet, making it a standout feature in any garden.
Thriving in full sun and well-draining soil, the Black Knight is remarkably easy to care for, making it an excellent choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. Its hardiness and resilience make it a dependable option for those looking to attract pollinators while adding a burst of vibrant color to their landscape. With its enchanting blooms and ability to support local wildlife, the Black Knight Buddleia is sure to enhance the beauty and biodiversity of your outdoor space.
Buddleia davidii Nanho Purple is a captivating flowering shrub, renowned for its vibrant purple blooms that bring a lively splash of color to any garden. This compact variety of butterfly bush is ideal for small spaces, making it a fantastic choice for patios or urban gardens.
Blooming from summer to fall, it not only adds beauty but also attracts a variety of pollinators, including butterflies and bees, supporting local wildlife. With its low-maintenance requirements and eye-catching appearance, Nanho Purple is truly a must-have plant for any garden enthusiast looking to enhance their outdoor space.
Buddleia White Profusion is a striking variety of butterfly bush known for its abundant clusters of pristine white flowers. This fast-growing shrub is particularly appealing to pollinators, especially butterflies, making it an excellent choice for any garden. With its vigorous growth habit and continuous blooms from summer through fall, Buddleia White Profusion will undoubtedly add beauty and vibrancy to your outdoor space, inviting both color and life to your landscape.
Buddleia Blaze Pink is a beloved hybrid cultivar renowned for its vibrant pink flowers that draw butterflies and bees into your garden. This low-maintenance shrub flourishes in full sun and well-drained soil, making it an excellent choice for any landscape. Its compact size and extended blooming period make Blaze Pink ideal for infusing color into garden beds or containers, ensuring your outdoor space bursts with life throughout the growing season.
Buddleia 3n1, or Buddleia davidii 3-N-1, is a unique and versatile plant that showcases three stunning colors of butterfly bush on a single shrub. This compact beauty attracts butterflies and other pollinators with its fragrant blooms in shades of pink, purple, and white. Easy to care for, Buddleia 3n1 thrives in a variety of soil types and growing conditions, making it an ideal addition to any garden. With its vibrant colors and pollinator-friendly qualities, this plant is sure to enhance the charm of your outdoor space while supporting local wildlife.
Miss Molly Buddleia is a captivating shrub celebrated for its striking pinkish-purple blooms that attract butterflies and other pollinators to your garden. With a compact growth habit, it reaches up to 5 feet tall, making it an ideal choice for small gardens or container arrangements. This low-maintenance plant is also drought-tolerant, adding to its appeal as a versatile addition to any landscape. Whether used as a focal point or a vibrant backdrop, Miss Molly is sure to enhance your outdoor space while supporting local wildlife.
The buddleia nanho purple butterfly bush is a gorgeous deciduous shrub that produces an abundance of fragrant lavender-purple flowers that attract butterflies. With its fast growth rate and easy care requirements, this plant is an excellent choice for gardens that need some late summer color.
An Overview of Buddleia Nanho Purple
Also known by its botanical name of Buddleja davidii ‘Nanho Purple’, this butterfly bush is a cultivar of the species Buddleja davidii It was named after the French missionary and naturalist Armand David, who found this species growing in the wild in China in the late 1800s.
The nanho purple cultivar features dense clusters of rich lavender-purple blooms with orange throat markings. These fragrant flowers appear on fast-growing arching branches from early summer through the first frost. The bush has an upright form that can reach 5-10 feet tall and 4-8 feet wide.
This plant is deciduous, losing its leaves in winter. The foliage is a grayish green color. Without pruning, the plant can become leggy and open in form. But with proper care, it will reward you with nonstop flowers that butterflies love.
Growing Conditions for Nanho Purple Butterfly Bush
Buddleia nanho purple does best in full sun and well-drained soil. It is tolerant of different soil types, as long as the site doesn’t stay overly wet. Some key requirements for this plant include:
- Sun: Needs at least 6 hours of direct sun per day. Morning sun is ideal.
- Soil: Well-draining soil is a must. Average garden soil amended with compost works well.
- Water: Requires regular watering until established, then is somewhat drought tolerant.
- Hardiness: Grows in USDA zones 5-9. Tolerates light frosts.
- pH: Does well in neutral to slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0.
While tolerant of heat, humidity, and short dry spells, this butterfly bush thrives with consistent moisture. Be sure to water it during extended hot, dry periods for best flowering.
How to Plant Nanho Purple Butterfly Bush
You can find nanho purple butterfly bushes at local nurseries in the spring and summer Choose a healthy plant in a 1-3 gallon pot with robust foliage and no signs of disease, insects, or damage
Here are some tips for planting your new butterfly bush
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Pick a site with full sun and well-drained soil. Amend clay soils with organic matter.
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Dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the root ball. Loosen the roots and place in hole.
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Backfill the hole with native soil, tamping down gently to remove air pockets.
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Water deeply after planting to settle the soil. Add 2-3 inches of mulch around base.
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Stake taller plants for support until established.
For best results, plant in spring after the last frost date. This gives the shrub time to establish before winter. But you can also plant in fall at least 6 weeks before your first expected frost.
How to Care for Nanho Purple Butterfly Bushes
Caring for this easy-going plant mainly involves proper pruning, occasional fertilizing, and regular watering. Here are some care tips:
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Watering: Water regularly until established, then 1-2 times per week during droughts.
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Fertilizer: Feed in early spring with a balanced fertilizer or compost.
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Pruning: Prune stems back by 1/3 to 1/2 in late winter to shape and encourage blooms.
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Deadheading: Remove spent flower clusters to promote continued blooming.
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Pests/diseases: Monitor for aphids and powdery mildew. Avoid overhead watering.
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Winter care: Protect from heavy snow loads. May die back in cold winters then regrow in spring. Cut back any dead stems.
Pruning is important to keep your butterfly bush full, compact, and flowering. Without it, plants become loose, leggy, and less floriferous.
Tips for Getting the Most Flowers
Here are some additional tips to maximize the floral display of your nanho purple butterfly bushes:
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Prune religiously each late winter to shape and promote dense growth.
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Amend soil with compost or manure annually to provide nutrients.
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Water 1-2 inches per week during drought and extreme heat for lush growth.
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Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-4 weeks during spring and summer.
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Deadhead spent flowers frequently to encourage continuous blooming.
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Provide afternoon shade in extremely hot climates to reduce flower drop.
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Replace older plants every 3-5 years to ensure vigorous growth and prolific flowering.
Common Problems With Butterfly Bushes
This hardy plant has few issues with pests or diseases when grown in the right conditions. Here are some potential problems to watch for:
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Aphids: Check new growth for these sucking insects and spray off with water or use insecticidal soap.
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Powdery mildew: This fungal disease coats leaves with white powdery growth. Improve air circulation and avoid overhead watering.
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Dieback: In cold zones, plants may die back. Prune out dead stems in spring and fertilize to stimulate regrowth.
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Legginess: Prune frequently to maintain a compact, shapely habit.
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Few/no flowers: Ensure plant is getting at least 6 hours of direct sun, prune annually, and fertilize regularly for best flowering.
How to Propagate More Butterfly Bushes
Once established, the nanho purple butterfly bush will likely put out root suckers that can be dug up and replanted. You can also propagate more plants from:
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Cuttings: Take 4-6 inch tip cuttings from new growth in summer. Dip in rooting hormone and plant in potting mix. Keep humid until rooted.
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Seeds: Collect and sow seeds in containers in fall. Seeds need stratification in winter and may not come true from hybrid parent.
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Division: Dig up plant in early spring and divide the root ball, replanting divisions.
Follow proper spacing guidelines when propagating more plants, as butterfly bush can spread aggressively. But when contained, its beauty and appeal to pollinators make it a prized addition to many gardens.
Why Grow Buddleia Nanho Purple?
If you’re seeking a low-maintenance shrub that pumps out blossoms just when the garden needs it most, buddleia nanho purple is an excellent choice. Here are some of the top reasons to grow this butterfly bush:
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Provides late summer blooms when few other plants are in flower.
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Attracts butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and other pollinators to your yard.
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Fragrant flowers are excellent for cutting and floral arrangements.
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Fast growing and fills in quickly in the first 2-3 years.
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Very hardy and adaptable to most climates and soils.
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Requires little care besides pruning and occasional watering/fertilizing.
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Works beautifully in borders, cottage gardens, butterfly gardens, and informal hedges.
If you have a bare spot that needs some life from midsummer through fall, consider planting one of these vibrant purple butterfly bushes this year. Follow the growing tips above, and you’ll be rewarded with vivid blossoms and plenty of winged visitors.
Sunlight and Watering Needs
Buddleias grow best in full sun. They need at least six hours of direct sunlight every day. This sunlight is important for them to grow healthy and have many flowers. If you plant your Buddleia in a shady spot, it may grow longer stems, have fewer flowers, and be more likely to get sick.
Watering properly is also very important. Buddleias can handle dry conditions once they are established, but they still need regular moisture, especially when its dry. Try to keep the soil moist but not too wet. Watering too much can damage the roots and cause root rot.
A good way to know when to water is to check the soil. If the top inch feels dry, its time to water your Buddleia deeply. Water it well but not too often. This helps the roots grow deeper, making the plant stronger.
Planting your Buddleia the right way is very important for it to grow well in its new place. Before you plant, find a good spot with the right conditions for strong growth.
Look for a place that gets plenty of sunlight and has soil that drains well. This will help stop water from building up and causing root rot. Also, think about how big your Buddleia will get when its fully grown. Make sure there is enough space for it to expand without being squeezed in.
Pruning and Maintenance Tips
Buddleias grow quickly, so they need regular pruning to keep their shape and grow bushier. When you prune correctly, it makes the plant look nicer and helps it bloom more.
Regular pruning also stops the Buddleia from becoming tall and floppy. This way, there is less chance of the stems breaking, especially when it is windy. It’s important to prune at the right time so you do not cut off the flower buds that are just starting to form.
Pruning Butterfly Bushes (Buddleia)
FAQ
How big do Nanho purple butterfly bushes get?
‘Nanho Purple’ is a butterfly bush cultivar which features lavender-purple flowers on a compact plant. It is a deciduous shrub with an arching, spreading habit which typically grows to 3-5′ tall if not cut back in late winter and 2-3′ tall if cut back.
Where is the best place to plant Buddleia?
Choose a sunny site to plant your Buddleia where it has room for the arching branches to spread without interfering with neighbouring plants. Because the wood is rather brittle, it is wise to plant this shrub in a sheltered location to lessen the chance of wind damage.
Should Buddleia be cut back every year?
Butterfly bush, Buddlea needs to be cut back every spring once it has reached it’s full size and is well established, after a couple years. Since is a summer bloomer, cutting back early won’t be cutting off any flowering wood. Cut it back at least by half. Two thirds even better.
Is a purple butterfly bush a perennial or annual?
Overall, the Butterfly Bush is an excellent perennial choice for gardens with sun to part sun, well drained soil, and a gardener that loves hummingbirds, butterflies, and other wildlife!
What is a Nanho Purple Butterfly bush?
The nanho purple butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii nanhoensis) is a deciduous shrub that is native to China. It is named for its clusters of small, purplish-blue flowers that attract butterflies. The nanho purple butterfly bush grows to 6-8 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide. It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
Do Nanho Purple butterfly bushes need full sun?
The bush can be planted in full sun or partial shade. It will grow in full sun but will bloom more profusely in partial shade. So, like the other butterfly bushes, the nanho purple butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii Nanho Purple) requires full sun to partial sun for best growth and flowering.
When does a Nanho Purple Butterfly bush Bloom?
The nanho purple butterfly bush blooms from late summer to early fall. It is propagated by softwood or semi-ripe cuttings taken in summer. It can also be propagated by seed, but it may not come true to type. The nanho purple butterfly bush is a popular choice for gardens, butterfly gardens, and naturalized areas.
Can You overwater a Nanho Purple Butterfly bush?
Take care not to overwater your nanho purple butterfly bush, as this can lead to root rot. Once established, your nanho purple butterfly bush is relatively drought tolerant. In colder climates, you may need to provide protection for your bush during the winter months.
How do you care for a Nanho Purple Butterfly bush?
Fertilize your nanho purple butterfly bush every few weeks during the growing season. Prune your bush regularly to encourage new growth and maintain its shape. Keep an eye out for pests such as aphids, which can damage the leaves of your bush. Take care not to overwater your nanho purple butterfly bush, as this can lead to root rot.
What is a ‘Nanho Purple’ shrub?
If you are looking for smaller less wild-looking shrubs, B. ‘Nanho Purple’ is the one to go for and also more compact than B. ‘Nanho Blue’. The silvery grey green leaves provide the perfect backdrop for the rich purple -violet flowers with an orange throat.