Lo & Behold Blue Chip butterfly bush

Sun

Full sun; allow at least 6 hours of direct sunlight for good flowering.

Water

Water regularly during establishment, then during prolonged dry spells. Established plants tolerate some drought but not persistently wet roots.

Soil

Well-drained soil, from sandy to moderately loamy; tolerates a range of pH levels. Avoid waterlogged clay.

Height

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Spread

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Flowers

Summer to early autumn, often until frost; short spikes of fragrant blue-purple flowers.

Foliage

Narrow, grey-green leaves with paler undersides; usually deciduous, sometimes retaining leaves in mild winters.

Growth

Moderate to fast; produces most of its flowering growth each spring and summer.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen
• Fragrant

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.8 ft (0.56 m)

3. After 2 years

   2.1 ft (0.63 m)

4. After 3 years

   2.3 ft (0.69 m)

5. After 5 years

   2.5 ft (0.75 m)

   full size

About 4 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Fast

• Water deeply through the first growing season, allowing the soil surface to dry between waterings.
• In heavy soil, plant on a broad raised mound rather than in a pocket of amended soil.
• Apply a light layer of compost in spring; avoid heavy feeding, which encourages soft growth.
• Keep mulch clear of the crown and stems, especially in wet climates.
• Check containers frequently in warm weather and keep drainage holes unobstructed.

Pruning. In early to mid-spring, once new buds show and severe frost has passed, remove dead wood and shorten healthy stems to a low framework about 6-12 in (15-30 cm) high. Deadheading is optional because this cultivar continues flowering without it.

Spring

Wait for buds to swell, then prune back to healthy growth.

Spring

Plant after the soil becomes workable and drains freely; water thoroughly.

Late spring

Apply a light compost dressing and check that mulch is clear of the crown.

Summer

Water new plants during dry weather and check containers frequently.

Late summer

Remove spent flower spikes if you prefer a tidier appearance.

Autumn

Leave the main stems standing rather than cutting hard before winter.

Winter

Check drainage and shelter containers from prolonged saturation and severe freezing.

• Place near the front of a sunny mixed border, where its low habit will not hide taller plants.
• Repeat along a sunny path as a loose, flowering edging.
• Combine with salvias, catmint and ornamental grasses for a long-flowering, informal planting.
• Grow in a large, freely draining container on a sunny patio.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, Pollinator garden, Low-maintenance, Dry gravel garden, Small-space and Blues and silvers.

Plant it with: Catmint, Perennial salvia, Coneflower, Yarrow, Lavender and Little bluestem.

Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar for butterflies, bees and other insects. It is not a substitute for the native host plants that butterfly caterpillars need.

• Winter root rot or crown loss: improve drainage, keep mulch away from stems and avoid sites that remain wet.
• Late spring growth or frost-killed stems: wait for buds before judging the plant dead, then prune to living wood.
• Spider mites in hot, dry conditions: check stippled leaves and fine webbing; rinse leaf undersides and prevent severe drought stress.
• Sparse flowering or floppy growth: move to full sun and reduce nitrogen-rich fertiliser.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses; no parts are generally recognised as poisonous. It is an ornamental plant, not a food plant.

Where it spreads. 'Blue Chip' is a low-fertility hybrid with much lower seed production than ordinary butterfly bush and is not generally considered invasive. Its relative Buddleja davidii is invasive in parts of the United States, particularly the Pacific Northwest, and spreads widely in the UK and parts of southeastern Australia. Local sale and planting restrictions vary;

• Ordinary butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii)

  Most forms grow much taller, with longer arching branches and larger flower spikes; 'Blue Chip' stays low and rounded.

• Lo & Behold Blue Chip Jr. butterfly bush (Buddleja 'Blue Chip Jr.')

  A separate cultivar that is generally smaller, with silvery foliage and earlier flowering; check the cultivar label because young plants look very similar.

Buddleja honours the English botanist Adam Buddle, while butterfly bush refers to the butterflies attracted to its nectar-rich flowers.

Propagation. Usually propagated by softwood cuttings in late spring or early summer. Seed is scarce and will not reliably reproduce the cultivar; check local plant breeders' rights or patent restrictions before propagating.

Accepted botanical name

Buddleja

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.