PlantFiles: Butterfly Bush, Summer Lilac, Orange-eye Butterfly Bush
Buddleja davidii 'Harlequin'

First, to answer lindanat's question: I'm in the Hudson Valley, NY to your NJ, and my 'Harlequin' behaved exactly as you describe in it's first year. I got mine from a Bluestone Perennials in spring '09, in a 4" pot, so the root system was very immature and I assumed that to be the cause. The second year, however, it took off like a rocket - easily 5.' Both years, it was mulched at about 2" hardwood shavings, zone 6 (SE tip of Dutchess Co.), nothing special. But...

I dislike this plant for several reasons: 1) it is supposed to be a dwarf. My growing conditions are far from optimal (not truly full sun; quite a bit of dappled shade), and yet it has still exceeded it's growth max of 4', topping out at 5' last summer. As I've a small yard, carefully planned, this looked horribly oppressive where I planted it.

2) it's growth habit: I expected a "bush," however mine looks like a tall, narrow Miscanthus on shrub legs - yuck! Gawky, ungainly, just plain ugly vase-like form. I've read subsequently that you can "shear" the plant after flowering. I'll give that a whirl this year, but I'm not optimistic (p.s., I cut it back each spring correctly to 12").

3) the variegated foliage REVERTS. Yup. Last year, cut out three reverted stems. This year, it is barely out of the batter's box, and showing signs of 50% reversion, plus strange leaf contortion/undulation (is Buddleja subject to leaf miners??). I'm giving this one more season, and then composing it if I see more reversion/no form improvement from shearing.

On the plus side: it's blooms are gorgeous: true red-violet, which is just what I wanted, and in this it did not disappoint. Looks just *perfect* with the variegated foliage (when it is present! lol). Really wanted to like this one, but I've had bad luck with it. :-(

i planted my dwarf butterfly bush in a spot that gets sun all day. Every day it completely wilts, so then i water it some more.

any shock to the roots should be over by now (been in the ground about 2 weeks. . .).

it's been overcast and rainy for the last 2 days and the plant has perked up.

does anybody know if the roots need to be heavily mulched to keep them cool, like clematis? any other ideas?

thanks.

Buddleia davidii 'Harlequin' VARIEGATED BUTTERFLY B Dec (z5) (Fra,Bfly,Cut)
Though the butterflies don't seem to care!, we think the conspicuously cream-variegated leaves of this special variety add greatly to its beauty, combined with its red-purple,frag. flowers (these the bflys do approve of!)S/M
(FROM FOREST FARM)

I planted this late in May, and it not only bloomed in its first year, but grew to almost seven feet tall, and approximately five feet at its widest point.

It did not seem to be bothered by a somewhat shady spot (we do get VERY hot in the summer though), and even some watering neglect.

Hope you enjoy it too!

Easy to grow, I cut this down late fall and it grows fast in the spring to about 7-8 ft.

Three years and running with this plant and I have gotten more butterflies in my yard than I've ever seen in my life! I have it planted on one side of the railing in my front yard and I just planted a Dark Knight version on the other side. The whole neighborhod comments on how beautiful it is!

I just planted this plant for the first time. I am an avid bird watcher and love to be outside in my background. I wanted to attract more life to my yard so I did some homework on the Butterfly plant. So far, my plant is doing well. I don't know if it will bloom for me the first year but time will tell.

This plant is deer-resistant.