BUDDLEIA . . . the Butterfly Bush

I can remember, on a particular June day,  visiting a plant nursery.   I was looking over row after row of tempting perennials, and having difficulty choosing just a few to satisfy a very severe case of spring fever.  I noticed a small plant in a four inch pot that had a rather large lavender-colored flower cluster.  What caught my eye, however, was not so much the plant, but the huge butterfly on it.  As I got closer, the butterfly seemed completely oblivious to my presence, and I was amazed.  Any perennial that holds this much attraction for butterflies could certainly find a place in my garden.  And it did. That was my first experience with Buddleia, also known as the butterfly bush. 

The following summer,  it provided delightful entertainment for my children. They liked to pick the nectar-drunken butterflies off the flowers, perch them on their fingers and release their wings to fly away home. 

Buddleia needs a sunny site, and a fertile soil with good drainage.  It likes plenty of water in the summer months, and will bloom repeatedly throughout the growing season.  There are many varieties and colors, most range from pink to dark purple, white, and even grafted plants with several colors on one plant.  My personal favorites are "Pink Delight," and "Black Knight." 

In our zone 5 Missouri climate, this plant should have a mulch covering the base over winter, to protect it from extremes of cold and ice, which can weaken, damage, or even kill the shrub, especially in the first year.  Dead wood should be cut out from year to year, and there seems to be some debate as to whether they should be pruned after winter at all.   I wait until spring, and prune the plant back to 6 inches, as new sprouts should reliably come through the mulch each year.   This is definitely a plant to be enjoyed for masses of color, butterflies, and fragrance.