Purple Haze Buddleia

Purple Haze Buddleia (Buddleja davidii 'Purple Haze') is a compact, mounded butterfly bush that grows about 90cm tall and wide, its branches cascading under long, scented purple flower cones. It flowers from mid-summer to the first frost and sets no seedlings. It is one of the Lo & Behold dwarf buddleias.

Why you'll love it

• A tidy, cascading mound. The habit is rounded and gently arching, so it looks planned even beside wilder plants.
• Purple cones for months. Long scented clusters open from mid-summer and keep coming until the first frost, with butterflies, bees and birds following the scent.
• No deadheading, no seedlings. The flowers are sterile, so there is no spent-flower chore and no self-sown plants turning up in the lawn or the bush.
• Heat and frost tolerant. It is rugged and reliable through hot summers and cold winters, and drought tolerant once established.
• Low effort. One hard prune a year, followed by a slow release feed, keeps it healthy and flowering.

Where it works best

Mass planting. Plant 80cm apart for a flowing drift of purple. The mounds just overlap, which gives a continuous low sweep along a bank, a driveway or the front of a bed.

Pots and patios. The cascading habit spills over the rim of a large pot or planter, so it works well on a sunny patio or beside steps.

Cottage gardens and informal borders. Use it as a mid-height, low-effort filler between taller shrubs and shorter perennials. Purple sits well with pink, white, silver and yellow.

Growing Purple Haze Buddleia in Australia

Position and climate. Best in full sun, though part shade is fine. Because it is heat and frost tolerant, it adapts to cool temperate, warm temperate, Mediterranean, semi arid and subtropical gardens.

Soil. Free draining soil suits it. In a pot, use quality potting mix and make sure the drainage holes are clear.

Water and feed. Mulch around the roots and water regularly for roughly 12 weeks while it settles in. Give it an extra boost with seaweed solution in the summer heat once it is growing strongly.

Pruning. Cut it back hard once a year, in late winter or early spring when new growth starts. That removes old shoots and keeps the mound compact and heavily flowered. Follow with a slow release feed.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Purple Haze Buddleia as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It arrives small, so give it a good soak and a sunny spot and it will build its mound over the warmer months. Plants travel upright and are ready to plant out as soon as you unpack them.

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

• More buddleias and butterfly bushes
• Plants for mass planting
• Plants that suit pots and containers
• Frost tolerant plants for Australian gardens

Common questions

How big does Purple Haze get?

About 90cm tall and 90cm wide, in a mounded, cascading shape. That is much smaller than a standard buddleia, so it suits borders, banks and pots.

Will it self-seed?

No. The flowers are sterile, so it does not drop seedlings, which makes it a better choice near bushland than the full-size buddleias.

When do I prune it?

Once a year in late winter or early spring, when the first new growth appears. Cut out the old shoots, then feed with a slow release fertiliser.