'Miss Ruby' Butterfly Bush (Buddleia)
Shrub
- Award-winning butterfly bush from Proven Winners.
- Bright, colorful flowers for months.
- Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
- Sun loving and deer resistant.
- Zones 5-9, sun, 5' tall x 5' wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Details
Common name: Butterfly bush, summer lilac
Patient: PP19,950
Zone: 5 - 9
Sun exposure: Full sun (6+ hrs/day)
Height x width: 4-5' x 4-5'
Flower color: Pink-red
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Mid summer-Fall
Bloom time: Early summer, midsummer, late summer
Features: Rabbit resistant, Proven Winners, low flammability, heat tolerant, fragrant, dry soils, drought tolerant, deer resistant, container plants, best for beginners
Uses: Accent, border, container gardening, cottage gardening, mass planting, hedges, flower gardens, small spaces
How to Grow
Light: Full sun - at least six hours of bright sun each day is necessary for healthy plants and abundant blooms.
Water: Low to average watering; soil can even be dry once established. Butterfly bush do not tolerate wet conditions for any period of time.
Spacing: 5 - 6 feet
Fertilizing: Little needed; if desired, apply a granular rose or garden fertilizer in early spring.
Winterizing: In fall, plants can be trimmed lightly if desired, but save major pruning for spring. Do not fertilize in fall, and if mulching, do not apply heavily at the base of the plant.
Maintenance & pruning: Butterfly bushes are best pruned in spring, once the new growth has begun to emerge. At that point, cut just above where big, healthy buds appear. Give butterfly bushes plenty of time to emerge in spring, especially in colder climates - this may take several weeks, even if other plants in your yard are already leafing out.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.
I watered it every day but it did not live !!!!!
We’re sorry you’re having trouble with your plants! Our team of horticulture experts would love to take a closer look! Our fall guarantee covers plants received after September 1 until May 2026, so we have you covered. Please send your order number and pictures of your plants to [email protected] to start the claims process if necessary. We look forward to helping! https://bit.ly/ggp-guarantee
The plants arrived in perfect condition and im very happy with them.
I have purchased from numerous online plant companies over the years. The plants from Butterfly Bushes.com were the best by far. Plants looked great right out of the box, and have surpassed other butterfly bushes purchased from a local nursery. Blooms look amazing!
I recently received my butterfly bushes from ButterflyBushes.com and couldn’t be happier with the plants. Both were in great shape and after following the directions I transplanted them outside. They are both growing beautifully and I am anticipating great success with them. I will purchase from them again and recommend them to anyone who is looking for butterfly bushes. Thanks!
Growing very nicely, has set flowers and continues to prosper in our butterfly garden. very healthy plant on arrival. all the ladies in our garden club love the color. butterflies and even bumblebees love it. recommended.
'Miss Ruby' Butterfly Bush - Buddleia
These bushes are so small that should be called micro bushes
We’re sorry you’re not satisfied with your plants! On each product page and our plant sizes page, we note that all of our plants are young. The size of our plants varies depending on the time of year and whether they were recently trimmed. The most important thing when purchasing plants, online or in garden centers, is a full and robust root system, which we prioritize. Trimming only encourages stronger root development! All orders are covered by our 60-day guarantee, so please reach out to [email protected] to start the claims process if necessary. https://butterflybushes.com/pages/our-plant-sizes
The website does say that this will "arrive as a young plant" but I was very surprised how small these "bushes" were. I purchased 3 plants and one looks pretty healthy; the other two have some brown leaves and areas where leaves have fallen off. I purchased a gallon-sized plant of this variety for the same price as these plants, but wanted more as they are so pretty. I really hope that these live and that they will really grow!
We’re sorry you’re not satisfied with your plants! On each product page and our plant sizes page, we note that all of our plants are young. The size of our plants varies depending on the time of year and whether they were recently trimmed. The most important thing when purchasing plants, online or in garden centers, is a full and robust root system, which we prioritize. Trimming only encourages stronger root development! All orders are covered by our 60-day guarantee, so please reach out to [email protected] to start the claims process if necessary. https://www.greatgardenplants.com/pages/sizes
It it thriving it has grown so much since I’ve got it think it will be a beautiful bush
Fast shipping and looked great. Went into the ground and haven't had any die-off or shock from the move. Expecting great things!
Arrived healthy
'Miss Ruby' Butterfly Bush
I just recieved the Miss Ruby butterfly bush , package well and the plant was healthy and green with some buds starting on it , I planted it close to the house , yes I would buy again .
Love Miss Ruby and the other plants. All arrived in perfect condition - the very best packaging of plants I have EVER seen! I'm looking forward to a gorgeous blooming season.
The butterfly bush arrived quickly and in totally excellent condition! This was one of three and already is putting out flower clusters! Simply gorgeous!
Great
Too small. And it’s still trying to survive
How do you trim for fall
You can trim butterfly bushes lightly in fall but save major pruning for spring. Wait until new growth has emerged before you start, then cut just above where big, healthy buds appear. The result will be stronger stems and better blooms!
How much water will it need?
Hello! 'Miss Ruby' Butterfly Bush has low to average watering needs and can even tolerate dry soil once established. The main thing is to make sure your soil is well-draining because butterfly bushes do not like wet conditions.
What zone will this variety grow inn?
Hi! 'Miss Ruby' Butterfly Bush will grow in zones 5-9.
Do butterfly bush attract squirrels?
Hello! Butterfly bushes are primarily known for attracting pollinators such as butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds due to their fragrant and colorful blooms. It's possible those same qualities could also attract squirrels but they generally leave butterfly bushes alone.
Which butterfly bush is the reddest?
The 'Miss Ruby' Butterfly Bush (Buddleia 'Miss Ruby') is often celebrated for its vibrant color, which is described as a unique pinkish-red. It's one of the reddest cultivars available in the Buddleia genus, known for its bright, colorful flowers that can appear more red, especially in certain lighting conditions. While true red is rare in butterfly bushes, 'Miss Ruby' offers one of the closest hues to red that you can find among butterfly bushes.