Chrysalis™ Purple Butterfly Bush

Light Needs

Full Sun

(At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

2 Feet

Mature Spread

2 Feet

Growing Zones

5 to 9

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.