Acidic fertilizer will not work on your Buddleias.....but the better the soil, the better the plant.....which may give you better looking flowers.

OK, I got curious and did some Googling as to where these hybrids originated and found this: "Though several Caryopteris species are grown in botanical gardens, as ornamental plants the species have largely been superseded in gardens by the hybrid Caryopteris ÃÂ clandonensis (C. incana ÃÂ C. mongholica). The accidental cross that produced it occurred in the garden of Arthur Simmonds at Clandon, near Guildford, Surrey.[5] In 1930, wishing to propagate C. mongholica, he gathered seeds from a plant that was growing near C. mastacanthus. When the seedlings eventually flowered in their second year, hybrids appeared. The final selection, however, was made of a self-sown volunteer that appeared under C. mastacanthus, and eventually smothered it. It began winning Royal Horticultural Society medals in 1933." I find this stuff fascinating and it proves once again - you have to have at least a basic understanding of botanical names. Kevin

Sherry, your Ellen's blue butterfly bush is gorgeous! I have 2 Black Nights and one pink (don't know name) bush. The butterflies love both. They have done great in my pa zone 5/6 yard. It was a very cold wet winter this year and they did die completely to the ground this year (first time ever), so they are a little smaller than usual and one is a little floppy. But they are doing well and flowering. I just so wish the monarchs would come back :(. Because I just learned (from this forum) that Asclepia tuberosa is not a favorite of the monarchs, I will plant something different next year. I just didn't know because when I first planted it 4 summers ago, it attracted monarchs and they laid eggs and I was able to raise about 8 cats both that year and the next. To bad they haven't been back since. Cathy

I can't remember where I bought mine, it was so long ago. It finally started dying back last year, so I dug up what was left. My husband was very sick, and I couldn't take care of my garden last spring or summer, so my vigorous passionvine, monarda and other plants overtook it. If I had weeded properly, it would probably still be growing. Still, I had it at least ten years. I Googled it and found MANY sources for it, ranging from $4.00 to $24.00. The nurseries that I do business with regularly aren't carrying it, so I can't recommend any of the nurseries. I ordered a butterfly bush called 'Inspired Violet' last year, grew it in the pot until I was sure all the butterflies liked it (they do) then planted it in its own bed. I got this one, even though I don't like the violet pink color as well as Ellen's Blue color, because it doesn't make seed. At my age, I'm trying to make gardening as easy as possible. Ellen's Blue does make seeds, you have to dead head a lot, but that's its only draw back. It's a wonderful size, and those LONG, nearly true blue blooms are to die for. Just Google Ellen's Blue butterfly bush, and take your pick, although I'd prefer to order it from a nursery as close to my home as possible, so it won't have to be in the truck too long. Sherry