Nanho Blue Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii 'Nanho Blue')
Buddleja dah-VID-ee-eye 'Nanho Blue'

Deciduous Perennial Shrub
Suitable for a mixed or shrub border, also grown as a speciman plant. Fast growing deciduous shrub with long arching shoots. Buddleia flowers on new growth.

Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) is a favorite shrub of many gardeners because of its colorful flowers and ability to attract a variety of beneficial insects. As the name implies, the shrub is particularly attractive to butterflies. Native to China, it is adapted to all regions of Illinois; however, it may be killed to the ground during harsh winters. 

The butterfly bush is a beautiful, fast-growing, deciduous shrub with masses of blossoms—long, spiked trusses—that bloom from summer to autumn.  Its flowers come in many colors, though butterflies seem to prefer the lavender-pink (mauve) of the species to the white and dark purple cultivars.  It typically grows to 6-12’ (less frequently to 15’) tall with a spread to 4-15’ wide when not killed back by cold winter temperatures. It is noted for its bushy habit, arching stems, showy/fragrant flowers and vigorous growth. 

Butterfly bush is a rapidly growing, deciduous, drought-tolerant shrub native to Asia.  Plant it in the full sun in well drained soil.  Flowers on new growth which appear from summer through the first frost.  The best flowers appear when the plant is severely pruned in late winter.  It is an excellent choice for the summer flowering shrub border to mass plant. 

 
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 6 - 8 feet tall. 5 - 6 feet wide.
Growth Rate Fast
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium: Widely Adaptable
Zones 5a - 9b (Usually hardy to -20° F)
Tags Attracts Birds, Attracts Birds, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Wildlife, Container, Container, Deciduous, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Edging, Edging, Extended Bloom Time, Extended Bloom Time, Fragrant, Fragrant, Fragrant Flowers, Fragrant Flowers, Full Sun, Full Sun, Full Sun, Good for Beginners, Good for Beginners, Good for Borders, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Hedges, Good for Hedges, Good for Mass Planting, Good for Mass Planting, Low Maintenance, Low Maintenance, Medium, Medium, Medium, Most Popular, Most Popular, Non-Allergenic, Non-Allergenic, Normal Soil, Normal Soil, Perennial, Perennial, Prairie Garden, Prairie Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Rabbit Resistant, Reblooms, Reblooms, Showy Flowers, Showy Flowers, Shrub, Shrub, Thrillers, Thrillers, Tolerant of Hot Dry Site, Tolerant of Hot Dry Site, Tolerant of Loamy Soil, Tolerant of Loamy Soil, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Well-Drained Soil Blue Flowering Shrubs, Fast Growing Shrubs, Flowering Shrubs, Hedges, Wildlife Shrubs
Flower Color Blue
 

More Info from Experts
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2024 : 05/01 - 05/04
2023 : 06/21 - 09/30

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

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