There are new cultivars that only reach about 3' in height. Since they are new, they are more expensive than the regular ones. I purchased a couple because I felt they were worth it, as regular BBs here can get as large as trees.

Didn't follow it closely, but there was a post about them in the Shrubs Forum.

I just planted 3 'Blue Chip' Butterfly bushes this season. They are still blooming for me. Look like they will make a nice shrub.

Here is a link that might be useful: dwarf butterfly bush

Yep, there is a miniature butterfly bush called Blue Chip that stays very small. See link below.

There is also an English butterfly bush series that are supposed to get a larger than Blue Chip but still much smaller than most other butterfly bushes (1/3 or so the size of regular sized butterfly bushes). I have a variety called Adonis from this series. Adonis Blue has deep blue flowers of good size with a delightful fragrance, Peacock has rich dark pink blooms, and Purple Emperor has large mauve-purple flowers.

Here is a link that might be useful: Blue Chip

Thanks! Do you all treat them like any other BB? I cut mine back 'low' in the Spring.

Mine are newly planted this year so I'm not sure. I'm going to take a wait and see approach this spring to see how they behave before I do any cutting.

We had the Adonis plants in the store this summer. The color was nice, but no one wanted to pay what Proven Winners was charging. I thought their growth habit looked a little weedy too, but that could be from the hatchet job done by the nursery that grew them.

Thanks T2D. I hope you give an update next Spring. Especially since you are in z5.
These are on my 'must haves' for next year. The size is perfect!

Jim

Jim -- According to the newsletter from Tony Avent, there is a problem with this year's Blue Chip. All sold in the US this year came from the same grower and may have foliar nematode symptoms. It may be spring 2010 before there is a new crop. However, it is possible some are fine.

I have Adonis Blue and it is a favorite. It grows 5x5.

Cameron {{gwi:194964}}From description of companion plants

Here is a link that might be useful: foliar nematode info

Thanks Guys! I think plant may be a winner. I can think of so many uses. Very versatile.

Jim

I have not found Adonis Blue to be weedy in appearance so it must have been the way they were trimmed by the nursery. I found mine online on eBay for a very reasonable price even taking the shipping into account.

Love the combo you have yours planted in Cameron. I see what I think are japanese iris planted in front but what are the other plants in that picture?

I put a detailed description of this combination on my blog. These are planted on a slope, with the buddleia at the top and the Japanese irises at the bottom.

The photo was taken on June 5, 2009 and includes:

buddleia 'Adonis Blue'
salvia greggii 'Dark Dancer'
spirea 'Neon Flash'
larkspur in mixed colors (mostly 'Lilac Spires')
rose campion (reseeding annual)
Japanese irises

Here is a link that might be useful: purple and deep rose companions

Just when I thought my money was safe for the winter....after reading about Blue Clips I ended up buying not one, not two, but three!

Thanks for the info Cameron. I just checked and I don't see any signs as of yet. I'll keep a close eye on them. I hope I'm lucky enough to have a few that were not infected.

I have a miniature butterfly bush given to me by Tony Avent of Plant Delights one year. It's only about 10" tall, and maybe 12" wide. It has pretty grey leaves and stems and white flowers - really, one might think it was a kind of sage or something.
I've had it in several locations and will move it again this year to a special spot. It gets hidden amongst any other plant, and it is truly a lovely little thing. I've never tended it at all except to move it (many times) and it always survives. Thrived in our drought!

GGG

Cameron, your artistry never ceases to amaze me.

Molly-- Thanks... if only the rest of the garden looked that good! :-)

I recently bought one called Nanho Blue Compact Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii nahoensis 'Nanho Blue'). I saved the tag and this info comes from it. Says it will be 3-5'x 3-5'. When I first saw it, I was passing the Jackson Street Nursery and they had several of them out front. The color was so pretty, I had to go around the block and go in to see what it was. Another lady stopped at the same time I did. We both left with one.

It smells so good! Butterflies are sometimes attracted to flowers that don't really smell good to me. Like lantana. But this one looks good and smells good too.

Outstanding picture Cameron! Very Pretty!

Susie