Buddleja, Butterfly Bush, Orange-eye Butterfly Bush, Summer Lilac 'Harlequin'

A sport of 'Royal Red' with a cream-colored edge to the leaves. In the southeastern US, it has unfortunately proven to be a weak grower a...Read Morend is very prone to having branches revert to solid green.

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.

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.

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'...Read Mores 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.
<...Read Morebr /> 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 t...Read Morehe 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)