Buddleja, Butterfly Bush, Summer Lilac 'Ellen's Blue'

Found by Ellen Hornig (of Seneca Hills Nursery fame) as a self-sown seedling in her NY garden. A great performer, and one of the closest ...Read Moreto blue (it's still bue-violet). This received favorable notice at the RHS 2008-2010 buddleja trials.

This species isn't long-lived (usually under 10 years). Hard pruning (to 6") annually in early spring helps it renew itself and improves bloom.

All B. davdii cultivars require weekly deadheading for them to look and bloom its best.

Butterfly bushes may be good nectar sources for adult butterflies, but they are not food sources for the caterpillars of any Lepidoptera native to the continental US.

In some places, B. davidii can be an invasive weed: England, France, New Zealand, and the states of Oregon and Washington. It has naturalized in eastern N. America but is not considered invasive there. Recent cultivars are usually selected for dramatically reduced fertility.This species has naturalized along the west coast of N. America from BC to Califolia, and also in 17 eastern states.

Buddleia 'Ellen's Blue' BUTTERFLY BUSH Dec (z5) (Bfly,Cut,Fra)
Large clusters (a bouquet all by themselves!) of some of the deepe...Read Morest, truest blue Buddleia flowers are complemented by the handsome grey-green foliage of this 5-6'shrub. Sun/Med

Love the color! I got this for the first time this Summer and the BF's love it too! Of all my Butterfly Bushes (have about a doz. differ...Read Moreent ones), this one is the one they flock to most of the time! I try a keep my Butterfly Bushes deadheaded for them and also to keep them blooming for me. I keep most of the Bushes pinched back so they stay more compact.

I just read today (11/20/06) that the flowers get bluer the bigger it gets, so I try not to pinch it back next year. Interesting.

'Ellen's Blue' is a really nice probably hybrid buddleia, well-behaved, and with that soft medium blue that's so wonderful in any garden....Read More It is very fragrant, and a butterfly favorite. I planted it nearly a year ago, and it is 4' tall and a bit wider after light pruning a month ago, just removing old blooms. Buddleias tend to be shorter-lived down here in central Florida, so I am interested to see how long this one will stay. I have only grown B. daividii before. Wish me luck!