Buddleja x weyeriana 'Bicolor' FLOWER POWER® butterfly bush, buddleja
Buddleja
Buddleja is better known as butterfly bush. The reason is obvious – from early summer when it starts blooming until early autumn it produces large, scented flowers that attract winged insects, mostly butterflies. If you are not yet aware of how many butterfly species you can get in your part of the world get one buddleja and in a few weeks you can apply for a doctor’s degree in butterflies!
Flower Power® is a recent butterfly bush intruduction with attractive colour play. The buds are lavender violet and open into lilac-pink flowers with conspicuous orange throats that add brightness to the overall appearance. Individual flowers are small and tubular, formed in 30-40 cm long, dense panicles at the ends of the branches. The inflorescence may look like lilac hence its other name: summer lilac. However, it can get misleading since summer lilac is commonly used for lagerstroemia.
Deciduous leaves are lanceolate, deep green, and slightly hairy. The shrub is airy and makes arching branches. It grows fast and gains attractive shape with age. To achieve a nice looking plant cut back last year’s branches to low permanent framework as buds begin to swell.
Butterfly bush requires little care. Plant it in full sun, in well-drained, humus-rich soil. It will die in boggy soil after winter. Though hardy to -27°C (USDA zone 5b) it performs better in warmer zones. We suggest purchasing older plants with woody framework if you live in a cold region.
Last update 12-08-2009; 07-03-2013; 09-02-2016
