Darkest Night™ Butterfly Bush (Buddleia)
Shrub
- New & improved version of the popular ‘Dark Knight’ butterfly bush!
- Near-black purple flowers bloom from summer to frost.
- Deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, & overall easy to grow.
- Fragrant flowers loved by gardeners & pollinators alike.
- Zones 5-10, sun, 4-6' tall x 3-5' wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Details
Common name: Butterfly bush, summer lilac
Patient: PPAF; CBRAF
Zone: 5 - 10
Sun exposure: Full sun (6+ hrs/day)
Height x width: 4-6' x 3-5'
Flower color: Purple
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Midsummer-fall
Bloom time: Summer, Fall
Features: Proven Winners, rabbit resistant, heat tolerant, fragrant, drought tolerant, deer resistant, low flammability, pollinator-friendly, low maintenance
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: Minimum 3-5’ ft apart.
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.