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'English Butterfly Series' of butterfly bush

18 years ago

Has anyone grown any of the "English Butterfly Series" of buddleia? There are three - Peacock, Purple Emperor and Adonis Blue. They are supposedly dwarf, but previous dwarf buddleias I've gotten, Nanho Blue and Petite Indigo, turned out to be about 7' tall and wide. Does anyone know what the real size of Adonis Blue etc. is? Or of any butterfly bush that really stays 4-5' tall and wide?

Thanks,

Juliet

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Comments (7)

MissSherry
18 years ago
I ordered and planted 'Adonis Blue' in my garden last year. It only grew about 2' tall, and it was very thin, too. It never really had a chance, though, because my huge 'Sonset' lantana grows next to it, and it grew right over it pretty early in the season. I just recently transplanted the butterfly bush to a bed where it'll have plenty of room, so hopefully it'll be able to grow to its fullest this year. I think it really is a dwarf, though, because my other butterfly bushes grow to 9' or more each year even when they're close to other vigorous plants.
I hope 'Adonis Blue' grows to a reasonable size this year, because I just LOVED the color of the blooms - they were a stunning shade of royal blue!
Sherry
Embothrium
18 years ago
Here Buddleja davidii is on the wane because it is popping up all over the place and nurseries are being ask to drop it.
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don't give up on it yet. Mine die to the ground each year . I prune them late March/early April as you did. When mine start to come they come from around the 'trunk' --very tiny glimpses of green to start and then off they go running. None of mine are more than 8-9 inches tall right now. I mulch the area their in very summer but do nothing to them extra in the fall. I have stopped buying the 'english garden' series as I found I did not have as much luck as I do with other kinds. I have without counting probably ten buddleia in various colors and all were a 100% return . I usually see the first green glimpse about the time I start to see green on my russian sage, my mother's garden about 70 miles north of me sees her first glimpse about two weeks after I do.
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Thanks Kim and Murray, As far as picking them up from a local store, I'm in zone 4B (Minnesota) and I don't believe any stores carry them. I have 3 from last year all started from seed. one white profusion outside (mulched, but will be surprised if it comes back) one white profusion potted inside (looking good) and one purplish crossbreed mulched outside in area sheltered from wind (hopeful that one WILL come back). The "buzz" versions sound interesting but I think I want to try some larger compact plants if possible. It's not a space issue, it's a "plant killing winter" issue. I may just buy one plant and see if I can trade seeds with someone for the other. decisions, decisions....thanks again!
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Comments (11)
I will get out and snap pics later. I know I have 'Black Knight' in the butterfly garden although the flowers never seem quite as dark as they appear in the catalogs - it is always blooming in such hot direct sun, it seems to deepen toward the end of the season. That one is perhaps as tall as me - 66" or so. And then I have a very large white - it is tall well over my head at 7' I'd say I believe it is 'White Profusion'. I know for sure I bought 'Nanjo Blue' and for a time and it was lower growing although it seemed to get very wide and the flowers weren't very bright - I thought I transplanted it out to my island bed and that one is blue but it gets much taller now. Maybe I replaced it and forgot... The one that interests me a lot is 'Dartmoor' that gets clusters of flowers - I wonder if they all age at the same rate? This site shows the English Butterfly series that really are supposed to be compact. 'Peacock' looks very nice. And how about those variagated ones like 'Santana' - although it gets quite tall. I did have 'Honeycomb' at one time - it just never thrived for me like the others, may have been the location. Here's anice site located really close to where I lived in Akron, Ohio with a good selection... Here is a link that might be useful: Dayton Nursery Buddlea Varieties
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sinai
18 years ago
Hi...

Any thoughts on how these smaller varieties should be pruned. Cut back hard or just selectively thinned? and when?.....Usually cut back my larger ones this month.

Paul
Embothrium
18 years ago
Pruning should be the same. As with any shrub, watch how individual specimen grows and prune accordingly. If it doesn't seem to have vigor or habit that would lend itself to hard pruning then don't.
bellarosa
18 years ago
I'm glad you asked about this buddleia 'cause I had the same question. I really like the blue 'Adonis' variety. I was talking to a vendor from the Proven Winners wholesale industry and she said that they are really dwarf varieties andc that the blue one was her favorite. I'm hoping that I can find it locally.
bindersbee
16 years ago
I am bumping this thread because I am curious about how the posters English Butterfly Series buddleias are doing this season- and how big they are getting. I'd like to plant an Adonis Blue one in my yard but need to know sizing etc. before I do. I am REALLY hoping they are dwarf as advertised.
a2zmom_Z6_NJ
16 years ago
I don't plant those but my Buddleia "Summer Beauty" never gets above 4 1/2 - 5 feet as advertised. It's a beautiful deep pink color with a strong fragrance.

Here's a few pics from my garden, last year:

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online sources for this include plant delights, niche gardens, digging dog, blossom farm, carroll gardens

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