Chrysalis Steel Blue Buddleia

Chrysalis Steel Blue Buddleia (Buddleja davidii 'Chrysalis Steel Blue') is a compact butterfly bush in a clear, strong lilac purple. It reaches only 50cm to 70cm tall and 45cm to 60cm wide, and long honey scented spikes cover it from early summer to late autumn. It is bred to flower freely on small plants and to resist downy mildew.

Why you'll love it

• A clear lilac purple. The colour is clean and strong rather than muddy, so it shows up well against green foliage and stone paving.
• Abundant flowers on a small plant. The Chrysalis range was bred for lots of flowers over a long season on compact bushes.
• Colour in a small space. At thigh height it suits patios, courtyards and the front of narrow beds.
• Wildlife magnet. The honey scent and nectar pull in butterflies, bees and birds.
• Hardy once established. It tolerates frost and drought, and mildew resistance keeps the foliage fresh.

Where it works best

Pots on patios and balconies. A compact plant in a medium pot gives a long season of colour and scent, with butterflies landing right beside the seating.

Informal borders. Plant 60cm apart in mixed beds. Steel Blue pairs well with white, yellow and silver planting, which brings out its cool colour.

Mass planting. Set 60cm apart in a drift to form a low, lilac sweep beneath taller shrubs or along a sunny path.

Growing Chrysalis Steel Blue Buddleia in Australia

Position and climate. Choose full sun to part shade. It is frost and drought tolerant, so it suits cool temperate, warm temperate and subtropical gardens as well as Mediterranean ones.

Soil. Free draining soil is best. It is forgiving, but avoid positions where water pools around the roots.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly for around 12 weeks until established. After that, garden plants are drought tolerant. A slow release fertiliser after pruning, with a seaweed tonic in summer heat, keeps flowering strong.

Pruning. Prune hard once a year in late winter or early spring when first growth resumes. This removes old shoots and keeps the bush compact. Deadhead spent flowers, since buddleias can self seed in some districts.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Chrysalis Steel Blue Buddleia as tube stock only: a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It arrives as a small plant ready to grow, and in warm weather it takes off quickly. Expect flowers in the first summer if it is planted in a sunny position, and a fuller plant each year.

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

• A guide to gardening in small spaces
• Compare other buddleja varieties
• Plants for balconies
• Bee and butterfly friendly plants

Common questions

Is Steel Blue blue or purple?

It is a clear, strong lilac purple. The cool tone looks bluish in the garden beside white or silver foliage, and it stands apart from the pinks in the same range.

Will it grow in a pot all year?

Yes. Use a good potting mix, water more often than you would a garden plant and prune hard once a year. Refresh the mix every couple of years.

Does it need much care?

Very little. Water while it settles, prune once a year and feed after pruning. Deadhead the spent spikes to extend the flowering and limit seed.