Love butterfly bushes but short on space? Meet Butterfly Candy®—a delightful, compact twist on the classic Buddleia, perfect for small gardens and buzzing with pollinators! This series of vibrant, low-maintenance shrubs attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds while fitting neatly into borders, containers, or tight garden spots.
Unlike traditional butterfly bushes that can reach towering heights of 6-10 feet, Butterfly Candy® varieties stay a manageable 2-3 feet, making them ideal for small spaces without sacrificing color or pollinator appeal.
Key Features
Varieties and Colors
Each Butterfly Candy® variety offers a unique, dessert-inspired name and a burst of color:
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Li’l Coconut™ – Fragrant white blooms.
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Li’l Grape™ – Vibrant purple flowers.
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Li’l Lavender™ – Soft lavender shades.
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Li’l Raspberry™ – Magenta-pink to ruby-red blooms.
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Li’l Taffy™ – Bubblegum-pink flowers.
Bloom Period
Butterfly Candy® bushes bloom from late spring through fall, providing nearly continuous color and nectar. Deadheading spent flowers encourages even more blooms!
Foliage & Fragrance
These shrubs form a tidy, rounded mound of dense, lightly toothed, spear-shaped leaves in shades of green to gray-green. Their sweetly scented flowers add sensory appeal to any garden.
Growing Conditions
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Hardiness: Thrives in USDA zones 5-10, tolerating temperatures from -20°F to 95°F.
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Sunlight: Needs full sun (at least 6 hours daily) for best flowering and sturdy growth.
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Soil: Prefers well-drained soil enriched with compost; dislikes soggy conditions.
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Watering: Moderate watering is needed, especially in the first year. Once established, they are relatively drought-tolerant.
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Pruning: Cut back in early spring before new growth appears to maintain shape and encourage fresh blooms. In colder zones, they may die back to the ground in winter but will regrow quickly as perennials.
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Fertilizing: A slow-release fertilizer in spring can promote vigorous flowering.
Benefits and Uses
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Pollinator Magnet: These nectar-rich blooms attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, enhancing garden biodiversity.
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Versatile & Compact: Perfect for pollinator gardens, cutting gardens (great for bouquets), container gardening, or mixed borders.
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Low Maintenance: Pest- and disease-resistant, with deer typically avoiding them.
Considerations
While Butterfly Candy® bushes are bred to be compact and well-behaved, traditional Buddleia davidii can be invasive in some regions (such as the Pacific Northwest) due to prolific self-seeding. The reblooming focus of this series may reduce that risk, but check local guidelines or deadhead spent blooms to limit seed spread.
Also, while these bushes provide nectar for adult butterflies, they are not host plants for caterpillars. Pairing them with native plants like milkweed ensures a complete habitat for butterflies.
Final Thoughts
Butterfly Candy® Butterfly Bushes offer a sweet deal: bold colors, easy care, and pollinator appeal in a compact size. Whether you want to brighten up a patio, create a pollinator-friendly oasis, or add continuous blooms to your garden, these petite powerhouses are a perfect pick.
