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Butterfly Bush

What could be more enjoyable than relaxing in your favorite lawn chair or hammock, shades on, cool beverage in hand, staring at an enchanting array of colorful butterflies milling around their favorite plant? What could possibly be an easier way to accomplish this vision than by planting a simple butterfly bush?

butterfly bush

Are you familiar with Buddleia davidii, butterfly bush? Buddleia is a flowering maniac! It pushes its proliferation of perfumed blooms straight through summer and well into fall. This plant is available in a multitude of colors ranging from white to pink to red to purple. There is selection to fit just about every garden color scheme. The fragrant, long, spiked panicles are borne in profusion on long, gracefully arching branches. And, it really is a butterfly magnet!

butterfly bush

This quick growing, deciduous, woody shrub is winter hardy in zones 5 -10. Whether you live in the northern most areas of its hardiness range, where Buddleia behaves like as herbaceous perennial, dying back to the ground in very cold winters, or in the southern most areas, where Buddleia is grown as large shrub, you should treat this plant as ‘cut back’ shrub. Butterfly bush blooms on new wood. It benefits the plant to be cut back to the ground each spring. This will stimulate lavish new growth and an abundance of flowers. It will also keep some of the larger varieties at a manageable size.

butterfly bush

Talk about easy! Plant your butterfly bush it in full sun in just about any type of soil and it will thrive. Don’t worry about fertilizing as it can encourage too much leaf growth over flower formation. Deadheading will encourage the manufacturing of new flower buds. Buddleia has a good tolerance for drought once established. Mulch to maintain soil moisture and keep weeds down.

Now, isn’t that easy!

RECOMMENDED BUDDLEIA VARIETIES BY COLOR

WHITES

‘Nanho Alba’: 6 – 8’ height, blue-green leaves, mildly fragrant

‘Silver Frost’: 5 – 6’ height, silver-gray leaves

‘White Ball’: 3 – 4’ height, silver foliage, compact habit

‘White Bouquet’: 8 – 10’ height, gray-green leaves, flowers have orange throat

‘White Cloud’: 8 – 10’ height, gray-green leaves, flowers have yellow eye

‘White Harlequin’: 8 – 10’ height, variegated leaves

PINKS

‘Charming’: 6 – 10’ height, blue-green leaves, flowers have orange throat

‘Fascination’: 8 – 12’ height, lilac-pink with cupped petals

‘Pink Delight’: 4 – 7’ height, gray-green leaves, true pink flowers, fragrant

‘Summer Beauty’: 5 – 6’ height, silvery leaves, pink-rose flowers

‘Summer Rose’: 8 – 10’ height, mauve-rose flowers, strong fragrance

REDS

‘Burgundy’: 8 – 10’ height, magenta-red flowers, fragrant

‘Dartmoor’: 8 – 10’ height, magenta flowers

‘Harlequin’: 6 – 8’ height, variegated leaves, reddish-purple flowers

‘Royal Red’: 10 – 12’ height, purple-red flowers, fragrant

PURPLES (BLUES)

Black Knight’: 8 – 10’ height, deep violet-dark purple flowers

‘Bonnie’: 8 – 1’0 height, light lavender flowers with orange eye, sweet fragrance

‘Ellen’s Blue’: 5- 6’ height, silver leaves, deep blue flowers, orange eye, fragrant

‘Moon Shadow’: 3 – 4 ‘ height, lilac purple buds open to lavender flowers

‘Nanho Blue’: 6 – 8’ height, gray-green leaves, mauve-blue flowers, fragrant

‘Orchid Beauty’: 6 – 8’ height, lavender-blue flowers, fragrant

‘Potter’s Purple’: 6 – 10’ height, deep purple flowers, mild fragrance

Protect Your
Japanese Maples

japanese maple

Beautiful additions to any landscape, Japanese Maples will look their best when given some protection during our hot, dry summers. As the weather becomes hotter and drier, your Japanese Maples may show signs of heat stress with the development of crispy leaf edges and/or leaf drop.

When planting a Japanese Maple, choose a location that receives morning sun only and has some protection from strong winds. Full afternoon sun and windy conditions will quickly stress plants and reduce leaf color.

japanese maple

Mulching will help to retain moisture and cool root zones. Apply 2-3 inches of mulch under your Japanese Maples, extending out to the drip line. Be sure to keep the mulch several inches away from the tree’s trunk to avoid fungus problems and crown rot.

Another way to keep your Japanese Maples looking their best is to use an anti-transpirant to helps to minimize moisture loss from leaves. The best time to apply an anti-transpirant is in early summer when Japanese Maples are in peak condition, before they start showing signs of suffering from heat stress. Make your applications early the day or on an overcast day to avoid leaf burn. Apply monthly through the hottest part of the year and your beautiful trees will look gorgeous heading into the fall season.

 



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