Does the stock market have you nervous? A lot of people were worried last week, even those with a nice blue chip portfolio. You'd better stick with 'Blue Chip' butterfly bush instead. The next generation of Lo & Behold® Buddliea is 'Blue Chip Jr.' It is smaller and less brittle than the original. It starts blooming much earlier and often continues to flower up until a good, hard frost.
Lo & Behold 'Blue Chip Jr.' butterfly bush grows 20-28" tall and wide - a versatile size. And it just won a silver medal at last week's Plantarium show.
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| Lo & Behold 'Blue Chip Jr.' Buddleia received a silver medal at the noted Plantarium show in the Netherlands. |
Lo & Behold Buddleia are real game changers for butterfly bush. This series of dwarf plants completely changes how we can use Buddleia in gardens.
First, there's the size. Unlike traditional varieties, Lo & Behold Buddleia stay dense and compact. They're a much better fit for residential gardens and can even be used in container designs. We really like them as mass plantings, too. Just be careful about overwintering them above ground unless you are in a very mild climate.
Second, there's the non-invasive nature of these varieties. They are seedless and one of the limited number of varieties that is permitted for sale in states like Oregon that have banned Buddleia.
Finally, consider the long bloom time of the Lo & Behold series. They flower from early summer right to frost without deadheading. These plants will give you months of well-behaved, fragrant color. The only difficulty is deciding which color is right for your landscape. 'Blue Chip Jr.'? 'Lilac Chip'? 'Pink Micro Chip'? 'Ice Chip'? 'Purple Haze'? Maybe all of the above is the answer.
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| Lo & Behold® 'Blue Chip Jr.' Buddleia - did we mention it's also drought tolerant, deer resistant, and adored by butterflies? |
The Lo & Behold plants are all hardy to USDA Zone 5. We do recommend planting them in spring rather than fall in cooler climates. Full sun and very well-drained soil are also important.
Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles.
