- Partial Sun to Full Sun (At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)
- Mature Height 5 - 6 Feet
- Mature Spread 5 - 6 Feet
- Growing Zones 5 - 9
One of the easiest shrubs to grow, Buddleia davidii Nanho Blue is a must-have butterfly bush for landscapes in zones 5 through 9. It grows quickly each spring and summer to a compact 5 to 6 feet high and 4 to 5 feet around. If you want to attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and songbirds to your yard, be sure to include several of these shrubs. Although they do fine standing alone, planting several is even better. And although pollinators love the long, silvery blue flowers, deer leave the plant alone!
Be sure to place one Nanho Blue Butterfly Bush near a walkway or patio where you can enjoy the fragrant flowers and watch flitting and flying visitors. Its compact form can work in a large container. The 4- to 10-inch flower spikes bring a bluish color to complement orange and yellow flowers all summer. What’s more, this fantastic shrub is easy to care for and can grow in nearly any soil type or moisture level.
Nanho Blue Butterfly Bush Care
Choose a spot with either full or partial sun for this versatile butterfly magnet. It will do best with at least 4 to 6 hours of sun a day. It can grow in poor soil, as long as it drains well. After planting, water it well and be sure to keep it watered during peak heat or drought. Once it begins to grow well and seems established in its spot, you can cut back on watering. Do not worry too much about overwatering or underwatering unless you see signs of wilting.
All or most of the leaves will die back in winter, but birds still can land on the branches. Wait until late winter or early spring and cut the plant all the way back to just above the ground. It will quickly regrow. There is no need to fertilize butterfly bushes, but you can top-dress the ground each spring with some compost to replenish the soil if you like. Container-grown buddleia can benefit from a one-time spring application of a slow-release fertilizer.
Note that in some regions, butterfly bushes can naturalize and become invasive, but newer hybrids are less sterile, and this is not a concern in many areas of the country.
Nanho Blue Butterfly Bush Spacing
Space your Nanho Blue Butterfly Bush plants about 4 feet apart in a mass planting to allow the mature branches to reach their full length.
Nanho Blue Butterfly Bush Information
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9 |
Plant Type: Bushes |
Light Exposure: Partial Sun to Full Sun (At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight) |
Mature Height: 5 - 6 Feet |
Mature Spread: 4 - 5 Feet |
Spacing: 4 - 5 Feet |
Habit: Mounded, Upright |
Flower Color(s): Blue |
Flower Description: |
Bloom Period: |
Foliage Type: Deciduous |
Foliage Color(s): Green, Silver |
Foliage Description: Silver-Blue Green |
Seasonal Interest: Summer Flowering |
Watering: Average |
Resists: Deer |
Tolerates: Drought |
Attracts: Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
Container Role: |
Uses: Borders, Mass Planting, Wildlife Gardens |
Features: Attracts Pollinators, Cut Flowers, Foliage Interest, Fragrant, Low Maintenance |
Brand: |
Common Name: Nanho Blue Butterfly Bush |
Other Name(s): |
Scientific Name: BUDDLEIA DAVIDII `NANHO BLUE` |
- SKU:
- 1231000990-pc
Container Sizes
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.
For more detailed information, please click here.
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Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)

Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)

Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations
Plant Shipping
Time of Order:
Summer Shipping
- If there is extreme heat we’ll delay shipping.
- We’ll have to review what areas the plants are traveling through along with your location
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an email with tracking information. Depending on the above criteria we’ll ship your plant(s) towards beginning of the following week from your order. We put together this helpful guide of what to do when you receive your plants in the mail.
It is important to know that all of our plants are clearly labeled for which growing zones the plant can survive in. The plants are thoroughly trialed and tested in every growing zone before we state the plant can grow in a zone. Again, our #1 priority is to ship the plants to you healthy and ready to thrive in your location. So we will do everything in our power to do so.