Product Description
Buddleia 'Bicolor'Common Name: Butterfly Bush, Summer Lilac
Zones 5 to 10;
Full sun.
Mature size 6 to 8 feet height, spreads 6 to 8 feet.
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, rapid growth habit.
Just when we need a breath of fresh air in the late summer heat, butterfly bushes 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, but it is deer resistant.
Buddleias should be planted in a full sun location with fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Adding lime to the soil may 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.
Other Details
The most important part of the plant is its root system. Healthy roots are the foundation of a healthy, vibrant plant. The type of plug container used is based on the specific needs of the plants. Perennials offered as bare root traditionally perform better when planted as bare root.Planted in a specialized mix, potted plants have well established root systems. Top growth stage will vary depending on the current life cycle and time of year when shipped. In Winter and early Spring dormant plants may be shipped. Dormant plants may be planted right away, even before the last frost date.
Most bare root varieties are field grown for at least one season, though Hemerocallis and Hosta are grown for two seasons. The bulk of the soil is removed during the harvesting process and the tops of most varieties are trimmed back to the crown. They are graded, packed in shredded aspen or sphagnum moss and stored in freezers until ready to be shipped.
See our Container Sizes and Bare Root Perennials pages for more information.
Plant information and care is provided in the Overview section, Plant Genus Page and general information is provided in the Planting Care & Guides. Additional questions can be asked on each Plant page.
Plant Spacing: Using the maximum mature spread or width of a plant to guide spacing, ensures space to grow to full size. To fill an area sooner, plant them closer together. Just remember, future thinning or transplanting may be needed.
Water: Keep a close eye on newly planted perennials, especially throughout the first growing year. Most early plant loss is due to too much or too little water!
