Buddleia 'Bicolor'
  Common Name: Butterfly Bush
Common Name (Alternative): Summer Lilac
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Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

A selection from Dr. Michael Dirr out of 'Honeycomb'. The first buddleia ever to offer two completely different colors on the same inflorescence! Fragrant, lavender and butterscotch yellow flowers blend together for a fascinating bicolor effect. Panicles grow up to 10 inches long and show up well against the clean grey-green foliage. Compact growth habit.

Butterfly Bushes have certainly earned their place in the garden over the years, and its easy to see why. Just when we need a breath of fresh air in the late summer heat, they happily burst into bloom. At a time when many other plants are already spent, buddleias are just beginning their show. Their passive coloring and texture makes a wonderful backdrop for perennials, and you'll love the butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds that flock to their honey-scented blossoms.

Breeder: Michael Dirr

Origin: Not Native to North America

Characteristics:



Height:
  6-8 Feet
Spread:
  6-8 Feet
Flower Color:
  Gold/Orange Shades
  Purple shades
Foliage Color:
  Green shades
Hardiness Zone:
5,6,7,8,9,10
Find Your Zone
Sun or Shade?:
  Full sun (> 6 hrs. direct sun)
Wet or dry?:
  Low water needs
  Average water needs
Want to see wings?:
  Attracts butterflies
  Attracts hummingbirds
Need critter resistant plants?:
  Deer resistant
How fast should it grow?:
  Rapid
When should it bloom?:
  Late summer
  Early fall
  Mid-fall
How's your soil?:
  Average Soil
  Fertile Soil
Sweet or Sour Soil?:
  Neutral Soil (pH = 7.0)
  Alkaline Soil (pH > 7.0)
What's your garden style?:
  Asian
  Eclectic

Click here to view the Grower Cultural Sheet

Size(s) Offered:

  Plugs: 20ct

Attributes:

Border plants
Drought Tolerant
Fragrant flowers or foliage
Specimen or focal point

Homeowner Growing & Maintenance Tips:

Buddleias should be planted in a full sun location with fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Studies have shown that adding lime to the soil will result in increased growth and better floral quality. They are also moderately drought tolerant once established.

Since they frequently die all the way back to the ground in northern winters, it is best to cut back all of the old wood to about 12" in the spring. Doing so will result in more compact plants. They will quickly grow back to their normal height by fall and will flower just as prolifically in late summer since they bloom on new wood. You may notice that the flowers tend to be longer and deeper colored in cooler weather.

Buddleias tend to break dormancy late in the spring, so don't worry if you don't see anything happening with them when your other shrubs start to leaf-out. These are very durable and reliable plants.


Companions:

Common/Botanical Name
Zones  
Aster dumosus 'Wood's Pink'
Common Name: Aster-New York
3,4,5,6,7,8
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Cortaderia selloana 'Pumila'
Common Name: Grass-Ornamental
5,6,7,8,9,10
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Geranium 'Rozanne' PP12175
Common Name: Geranium-Hardy
4,5,6,7,8
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Hemerocallis 'Hyperion'
Common Name: Daylily
3,4,5,6,7,8,9
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Perovskia atriplicifolia
Common Name: Russian Sage
4,5,6,7,8,9
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Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm'
Common Name: Black-Eyed Susan
4,5,6,7,8,9,10
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Sedum 'Autumn Fire'
Common Name: Stonecrop-Autumn
3,4,5,6,7,8,9
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Heliopsis 'Ballerina'
Common Name: False Sunflower
3,4,5,6,7,8,9
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Clematis viticella 'Polish Spirit'
Common Name: Clematis
4,5,6,7,8
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Eupatorium dubium 'Little Joe' PP16122
Common Name: Joe Pye Weed
3,4,5,6,7,8
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History:

Buddleia is named for Adam Buddle, an English rector.

While every effort has been made to describe this plant accurately, please keep in mind that the height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates throughout the country. The description of this plant was written based on our experience growing it in Michigan (USDA hardiness zone 5) and on numerous outside resources.