Go Back Butterfly Bush Royal Red

Posted: May 7, 2019 at 4:28 PM
Buddleia 'Royal Red'
    Butterfly IconDeer Resistant IconHummingbird Icon

    Plant Type: Deciduous Shrubs, Perennials

    The Butterfly Bush 'Royal Red', is not quite a true red color, but purple-red flowers are borne on this beautiful upright growing shrub. It is a vigorous growing shrub that boasts purple -red flowers from mid-summer and is a butterfly magnet. This bush flowers summer and fall and is easy to grow. With a name like Butterfly Bush you might expect a plant to be attractive to butterflies. In fact, it's more than attractive; it's a magnet for all the butterflies that pass through your garden seeking nectar.

    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.

    Currently not available for online purchase.

    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.

    Flower Color

    Purple/red

    Foliage Color

    Green

    Plant Spread

    4-6 ft.

    Good Companions

    Aster-New England (Aster novae-angliae), Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida), Blue Mist Shrub (Caryopteris ), Clematis (Clematis ), Coneflower-Purple (Echinacea purpurea), Daylily (Hemerocallis ), Grass-Ornamental (Pennisetum orientale), Grass-Ornamental (Miscanthus sinensis), Phlox-Tall Garden (Phlox paniculata), Russian Sage (Perovskia ), Stonecrop-Showy (Sedum spectabile)

    Plant Height

    5-10 ft.

    Scape Height

    —

    Hardness Zone

    5-9

    Soil Moisture

    average and consistent water needs

    Characteristics & Attributes

    Attributes

    Fragrant, Border, Specimen, Drought tolerant

    Bloom Time

    summer

    Critter Resistance

    Deer resistant

    Exposure

    Full sun to part shade

    Growth Rate

    medium

    Seasonal Interests

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