Buddleia ‘Pink Micro Chip’

Buddleia 'Pink Micro Chip' (Buddleja hybrid 'Pink Micro Chip') is a butterfly bush shrunk to fit a real garden. It holds at about 60cm tall and 80cm wide, a quarter the size of an ordinary buddleja, and covers itself in scented pink flower spikes from late spring into autumn. It is also sterile, which answers the main objection to the older butterfly bushes.

Why you'll love it

• Butterflies find it within days. Nectar rich spikes over months, worked from morning to late afternoon. For a small garden it is the strongest single pick.
• Sterile, so no seedlings. It does not set viable seed, unlike the old full sized butterfly bushes that have naturalised along waterways in some districts.
• Small enough for a border front. At 60cm by 80cm it fits the front edge of a bed or a mixed pot, where a full sized buddleja needs constant cutting back.
• Fragrant, and tough. A honey scent that carries on a still warm evening, on a shrub that is frost hardy, drought tolerant and heat tolerant.

Where it works best

Borders and mass planting. Plant 60cm apart. The plants merge into an unbroken band of pink along a bed edge or driveway strip within one season.

Pots and small gardens. A 400mm pot suits one plant, which makes it a good choice for a courtyard or balcony with no bed to give pollinators.

Front of a mixed bed. Its low mound sits in front of taller shrubs and roses, extending the flowering season without competing for height.

Growing Buddleia 'Pink Micro Chip' in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, at least six hours, or the flowering thins out badly. It suits warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and being frost hardy it is well placed in southern and inland districts. It is not a plant for the humid tropics, where humidity encourages mildew.

Soil. Free draining above all else. Average garden soil produces better flowering than an enriched bed. Mulch 50mm deep and keep it off the crown, because a wet crown in winter is what kills these plants.

Water and feed. Water twice a week through the first summer, then weekly in hot weather and rarely once established. A light complete fertiliser in early spring is plenty, since overfeeding produces leaf instead of flowers.

Pruning. It is deciduous and flowers on new wood, so cut it back hard in late winter to about a third of its height. Deadhead spent spikes and it keeps pushing new ones until autumn. Skip the winter prune and you get short spikes on woody stems.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in a single size, tube stock, currently listed on backorder so it ships with the next crop. Each plant arrives around 10 to 20cm tall, and may be leafless if it lands in winter, which is normal for a deciduous shrub.

Tube stock establishes quickly and this variety is fast to flower: plant in spring and expect blooms in the same season. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse other plants that attract bees and butterflies.
• Compare it with the wider deciduous shrub range.
• See what else scents a garden among our fragrant plants.
• Read our guide to frost tolerant plants for Australian gardens.

Common questions

Will it seed into the bush like other buddlejas?

No. This hybrid is sterile and does not set viable seed, which is precisely why the dwarf hybrids were bred. It still needs an annual cut back to stay compact.

How far apart should I plant it?

Sixty centimetres apart for a massed display. Each plant spreads to about 80cm, so that spacing gives a continuous low band of flower.

Does it lose its leaves in winter?

Yes, it is deciduous, so expect bare stems through the coldest months. Cut it back hard in late winter and fresh growth follows quickly.