Chrysalis Blue Buddleia

Chrysalis Blue Buddleia (Buddleja davidii 'Chrysalis Blue') is a compact butterfly bush bred for flowers rather than height. It stays 50cm to 70cm tall and 45cm to 60cm wide, yet carries long, honey scented spikes of rich lavender purple from early summer to late autumn. It suits pots and small beds, and it resists downy mildew.

Why you'll love it

• Five months of flowers. The spikes start in early summer and keep coming until late autumn, a longer season than most shrubs.
• Thigh high and tidy. It stays around 50cm to 70cm, so it works where a full size buddleia would overwhelm.
• Honey scent and wildlife. The flowers attract bees, butterflies and birds to even a small patio.
• Mildew resistant. It is bred to resist downy mildew, which keeps the foliage cleaner.
• Frost and drought tolerant. Once established in the garden it copes with cold mornings and dry spells.

Where it works best

Patio pots. Its small size suits a container beside a door or on a terrace, where you can enjoy the scent and the visiting butterflies at close range.

Cottage borders. Plant 60cm apart in informal mixed beds. The lavender purple spikes sit well with roses, salvias and silver foliage.

Mass planting. Set 60cm apart in a drift for a low sweep of colour that stays well under a metre and fills with flowers from early summer to autumn.

Growing Chrysalis Blue Buddleia in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade. It tolerates frost, so it suits cool districts as well as temperate and subtropical ones, and flowers best with plenty of light.

Soil. Any free draining soil will do. On heavy clay raise the bed slightly so water drains away from the roots.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly until the plant is established, usually around 12 weeks. In the garden it then tolerates drought, but potted plants need watering more often. Feed with slow release fertiliser after pruning and add a seaweed tonic in summer heat.

Pruning. Hard prune once a year in late winter or early spring, when first growth resumes. This removes old shoots, keeps the plant compact and boosts flowering. Remove spent spikes in summer, since buddleias can self seed in some districts.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Chrysalis Blue Buddleia as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, and in 140mm pots in packs of 10. Tube stock is ideal for a drift of plants, and the 140mm pots are an easy start for patio containers. Expect fast growth in warm weather, with flowers appearing in the first summer.

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

• Perennial plants for a cottage garden
• More buddleja and butterfly bush varieties
• Plants for pots and containers
• Frost hardy plants

Common questions

Is it really blue?

Not quite. The colour is a cool, rich lavender purple rather than a true blue, and it reads as a deep violet blue beside pale or silver foliage.

Can it stay in a pot permanently?

Yes. It is compact enough for a patio pot. Use quality potting mix, water often in summer, feed after the annual hard prune, and refresh the mix every couple of years.

Do I have to prune it hard?

Yes, once a year in late winter or early spring. It flowers on new growth, so the prune keeps the plant tidy and the flowering heavy.