Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
The Chrysalis™ series of Butterfly Bush is the most compact and well-behaved Buddleia available. The dense, dark foliage and deep-purple flower spikes make Chrysalis™ Purple Butterfly Bush a must-have shrub for the smaller garden or container garden on a patio or deck. Pollinators flock to this shrub as it remains in bloom for the whole summer until the first frost.
Deer rarely browse Buddleia's fragrant flowers. The woody stems are not bothered by rabbits either. Chrysalis™ Purple Butterfly Bush is hardy enough to make it through the coldest winters of USDA zone 4 without losing a year of blooms. Any winter-damaged top growth is quickly replaced in the spring. Plant Chrysalis™ Purple at the front of a cottage garden bed or in a container as part of a mixed planting on the patio. Low maintenance and drought tolerance round out the most attractive traits of this shrub.
Chrysalis™ Purple Butterfly Bush Care
Butterfly Bush thrives in full sun and nutrition-poor soil, allowing it to go just about anywhere in the garden. Mulch the root zone with 2-3 inches of organic compost or arborist chips to help the soil retain moisture longer. Fertilize ground-grown Butterfly Bush in the spring with a granular, slow-release feed formulated for roses. Container-grown shrubs will need more feeding through the season. From April to August, water with a diluted liquid feed once a month. Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil are dry in a container, or once a week when planted in the garden. Butterfly Bushes planted in the ground will be much more drought tolerant and need supplemental watering even less as they mature.
Deadheading is not mandatory for Chrysalis™ Purple Butterfly Bush. It will keep blooming all summer to the first frost. The Chrysalis™ series has been bred to have a higher tolerance to rain and downy mildew, making this one of the most trouble-free Butterfly Bushes available. Prune off any winter damage or cut the entire plant to within 6 inches of the ground. Either way, it quickly regrows and blooms on the current year's growth.
Chrysalis™ Purple Butterfly Bush Spacing
The smaller size of this bush makes it perfect for a container or the front of a garden bed as a specimen. It reaches 20-28 inches high with a spread of 18-24 inches. Space them 20 inches apart center on center when planting multiple shrubs. Choose a container with at least a 12-inch diameter for container planting.
Chrysalis™ Purple Butterfly Bush Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 5 to 9 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Full Sun (6+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 2 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 2 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Mounded
- Water Needs
- Dry
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , Purple
- Flower Description
- Purple
- Bloom Time
- Summer to Frost
- Blooms On
-
New Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Late winter to early spring, before new growth starts
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Green
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Spring Flowering, Summer Flowering
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Chrysalis™ Purple Butterfly Bush
- Botanical Name
- Buddleia x Chrysalis™ Purple
- Plant Type
- Shrub
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2026 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: ID, OR, AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!