Butterfly Candy Little White Buddleia

Butterfly Candy Little White Buddleia (Buddleja davidii 'Butterfly Candy Little White') is a compact butterfly bush that stays 80cm to 100cm tall and wide. Honey scented spikes of white flowers with a yellow eye open from late spring to late autumn, and butterflies, bees and small birds come for the nectar. It is bred for small gardens, borders and patio pots, and it is also sold as Li'l Coconut.

Why you'll love it

• Months of flower. Spikes open from late spring to late autumn, so the white starts early and lasts until the cool weather arrives.
• Wildlife in a small space. The honey scented flowers are full of nectar, so even a patio can attract butterflies, bees and little birds.
• Bred to stay small. At 80cm to 100cm it suits the front of a border and a large pot without constant cutting back.
• Heat and frost tolerant. Bred for heat tolerance, it also takes frost and, once established in the garden, dry spells.
• A clean white that mixes with anything. Crisp white spikes with a yellow eye sit happily beside pinks, purples and blues.

Where it works best

Mass planting. Plant 80cm apart for a dense, flowing drift. At that spacing the plants touch within a season or two, and a block of white spikes draws more butterflies than a single plant.

Cottage gardens and informal borders. It sits in the front half of a mixed border, where taller perennials can stand behind it.

Patio pots. A large pot of quality potting mix suits it well. Water pots more often than garden plants.

Growing Butterfly Candy Little White Buddleia in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade, with the heaviest flowering in full sun. It is frost and drought tolerant and bred for heat, so it suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens.

Soil. A light, free draining soil is ideal, and it copes with alkaline ground, including sandy and limestone soils. On heavy clay, plant on a low mound.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly until the plant is established, usually around 12 weeks. Fertilise with a slow release fertiliser after pruning, and give an extra boost in the summer heat with a seaweed tonic.

Pruning. Hard prune once a year in late winter or early spring, as the first new growth resumes. Cutting out the old shoots keeps the plant compact and gives heavier flowering.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Butterfly Candy Little White Buddleia as tube stock only: a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It arrives as a small, leafy plant and fills out fast once it is in the ground or a pot. Flowers build as the plant grows through its first warm season.

Our tube stock is supplied by our grower, so it is not always in stock. If the tube option reads sold out, the grower has none ready, and the notify button on this page sends you an email the day it returns.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the buddleja range
• Bee and butterfly friendly plants
• Plants for pots and containers
• Perennials for a cottage garden

Common questions

How hard should I prune it?

Cut it back hard once a year, in late winter or early spring, as the first new growth appears. It rebuilds as a compact, heavily flowering bush.

Is it the same as Li'l Coconut?

Yes. The same plant is also sold as Li'l Coconut, so you may see either name.

Can buddleias become weeds?

Common buddleia can self seed in some districts and is treated as an environmental weed in parts of Australia. Check your local weed list, and remove spent flower spikes before seed sets.