Li'l Taffy™ Butterfly Bush

Li'l Taffy™ is the perfect mix of sweet pink and reliable blooms. The Butterfly Candy® collection of butterfly bushes was developed for growing in containers and the smallest of gardens. This series boasts masses of flower spikes from late spring to the first frost in fall with virtually no maintenance necessary. The flowers act like magnets to any passing pollinator and are especially appealing to butterflies and hummingbirds. Unlike older and larger varieties of Buddleia davidii, Butterfly Candy® shrubs are far less likely to produce viable seeds, making them less likely to become a nuisance in the garden. 

The ultra-compact growth habit keeps the flower spikes upright and highly visible. Grow Li'l Taffy™ on a deck or patio in a container to entice passing hummingbirds and butterflies, or use it to edge a walkway or garden bed for colorful flowers all season long. Not only is  Li'l Taffy™ deer resistant, but it is also pet and child friendly. 

Li’l Taffy™ Butterfly Bush Care

Plant Li'l Taffy™ Butterfly Bush in full to part sun for the best flower show. To pot this shrub, select a container with plenty of drainage holes and fill with a potting mix that is peat-free and well draining. Garden-grown Butterfly Candy® will appreciate an annual mulch with organic compost or finely shredded leaves to improve moisture retention in the soil and suppress weed growth. 

Fertilize in the spring as the first growth appears. Use a diluted liquid fertilizer such as seaweed or fish emulsion. Continue to fertilize container-grown plants every 2-3 weeks through the end of summer. 

The only pruning needed is a cleanup of winter damage in early spring. Cut back all growth to within 6-8 inches of the soil to encourage dense branching and lush new growth. Deadhead as flowers die off to keep the plants tidy. 

Li'l Taffy™ is both cold and heat tolerant, making it accessible for gardeners in USDA zones 4-11. Container-grown plants should be moved to a dry, protected area over the winter months. In warm climates, continue to water butterfly bush when temperatures are over 50 degrees F (10 C) during the fall and winter; Li'l Taffy™ may stay evergreen in these areas. 

Li’l Taffy™ Butterfly Bush Spacing

Choose a container that has at least a 12-inch diameter to grow Li'l Taffy as a single plant. In the landscape, space each plant 18 inches apart, center on center, to create a dense mass planting or hedge.