‘Ellen’s Blue’ Butterfly Bush
Buddleja davidii ‘Ellen’s Blue’
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5a-9b Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Perennial Shrub
Height at Maturity: 4-5′
Width at Maturity: 4-5′
Spacing: 4-4.5′ for solid hedges, 18′ for space between plants
Spacing: 4-4.5′ for solid hedges, 18′ for space between plants
Growth Habit / Form: Upright Arching Bush
Growth Rate: Fast to Very Fast
Flower Color: Blue-Violet
Flower Size: 5-7″ long clusters
Flowering Period: June to Frost!
Flower Type: Single, packed on spikes
Fragrant Flowers: Yes, extraordinarily fragrant!
Foliage Color: Grey-Green
Fragrant Foliage: No
Berries: No
Berry Color: No
Sun Needs: Full to Mostly Sun
Water Needs: Average, low when established
Soil Type: Clay (amend heavy clay to ensure good drainage), Loam, Sand, Silt
Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well Drained
Soil pH: 5.5 – 8.5 (Acid to Moderately Alkaline)
Maintenance / Care: Low to Average
Attracts: Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Resistances: Deer, Disease, Drought (when established), Heat, Insect, Rabbit
Description
Discovered as a chance seedling by Ellen Horning in Seneca Hill, New York, and one of the best Buddleia introductions of all time, the ‘Ellen’s Blue’ Butterfly Bush is the most fragrant of all varieties we’ve ever grown. All summer long and well into fall, the compact 4 to 5 foot tall bush displays abundant spikes packed with uniquely colored blue-violet flowers with orange eyes that are a standout in the garden and irresistible to butterflies and hummingbirds. The grey green fuzzy leaves on gracefully arching stems add even more appeal to what is already an outstanding plant.
Landscape & Garden Uses
Growing 4 to 5 feet tall and equally as wide, the ‘Ellen’s Blue’ Butterfly Bush is ideal for use as an accent in smaller garden spaces, perennial gardens and home foundation plantings, where larger growing varieties won’t fit, or in groupings or as a colorful hedge in larger spaces. It also is a good performer in pots, planters and other containers of 18 inches or more rim diameter. A natural choice for butterfly and hummingbird gardens, fragrance gardens, cottage gardens and blue themed gardens.
Suggested Spacing: 4 to 4.5 feet apart for solid hedges or mass plantings; 8 feet apart or more for space between plants
How To Measure Total Square Feet Of A Planting Area
How Many Plants Needed To Cover A Planting Area?
Growing Preferences
Ellen’s Blue Butterfly Bush is exceptionally easy to grow. It thrives in full to mostly sun and isn’t too picky about soil type, provided the soil is well-drained and of average fertility. At least 6 hours of direct sun per day is suggested for best flowering. As with so many other plants, constantly soggy or wet soils can cause problems with the roots. Spent flowers can be deadheaded by snipping them off just below the spiked cluster, which encourages more flowers.
Helpful Articles
Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant, fertilize, prune and water Butterfly Bushes.
How To Plant & Care For Butterfly Bushes
Planning a Butterfly Garden
Butterfly Garden Design & Planting Tips
Plant Long & Prosper!
Meet The Wilson Brothers & Staff
Questions? Contact Us!

















Reviews
There are no reviews yet.