An Overview of the Many Beautiful Types of Butterfly Bushes

Butterfly bushes also known as summer lilacs are a group of flowering shrubs that produce spectacular blooms which attract butterflies. There are over 100 cultivars of butterfly bushes, offering gardeners a wide array of sizes, colors, and growth habits to choose from.

In this article, we’ll explore the different categories and popular varieties of these butterfly-friendly shrubs. Whether you’re looking for a dwarf butterfly bush, one with unique flower colors, or types suitable for containers, you’ll find descriptions and pictures of top picks for your landscape

By Size – Dwarf, Compact & Full-Size

Butterfly bushes range in mature size from petite dwarf varieties under 3 feet tall to large shrubs reaching 10 feet or more.

Dwarf butterfly bushes are ideal for small gardens, containers, borders, and areas where you need compact plants. Some top dwarf cultivars include:

• Blue Chip – Grows 12-24 inches tall with lavender-blue blooms.
• Lo & Behold ‘Ice Chip’ – Under 2 feet tall with white flowers.
• ‘Flutterby Petite’ series – Grows 2-3 feet tall in colors like pink, blue, and purple.

Compact butterfly bushes grow 3 to 5 feet tall and wide, working nicely in medium-sized gardens. Some compact varieties are:

• ‘Miss Molly’ – Grows to about 4 feet with deep pinkish-red blooms.
• ‘Nanho Purple’ – Violet flowers on a 3 to 4 foot bush.
• ‘Border Beauty’ – Around 5 feet tall with purple-pink blooms.

Full-size butterfly bushes become medium to large shrubs from 6 to 15 feet tall. They make bold specimens and background plantings. Some choices are:

• ‘Black Knight’ – Up to 10 feet tall with deep purple flowers.
• ‘Pink Delight’ – Grows 8 feet tall with soft pink blooms.
• ‘Alternifolia’ – Reaches 10 feet with lilac-purple panicles.

By Flower Color – Purple, Pink, White & More

Butterfly bushes are available in a spectrum of flower colors. The traditional bloom colors are purple, pink, and white. But through breeding, more unusual shades have been introduced too.

Purple butterfly bushes remain a top choice, with cultivars like:

• ‘Black Knight’ – Deep royal purple.
• ‘Nanho Purple’ – Rich violet-purple hue.
• ‘Adokeep’ – Vibrant purple-blue flowers.

Pink butterfly bushes add soft, feminine colors to gardens. Some pink varieties include:

• ‘Pink Delight’ – Silvery-pink blooms.
• ‘Pink Micro Chip’ – Vibrant neon pink flowers.
• ‘Miss Molly’ – Eye-catching dark pinkish-red.

White butterfly bushes provide a crisp, clean contrast. Popular white varieties are:

• ‘White Profusion’ – Pure snowy white panicles.
• ‘Lo & Behold Ice Chip’ – Full clusters of tiny white blooms.
• ‘Allure’ – Extra large, bright white plumes.

Yellow and orange butterfly bushes are less common but offer bright, sunny colors. Examples are:

• ‘Gold Fever’ – Cheerful golden yellow blooms.
• ‘Honeycomb’ – Warm orange and yellow flower spikes.
• ‘Eco Orange’ – Vibrant reddish-orange flowers.

So explore the rainbow of butterfly bush colors to find the perfect match for your garden design!

By Growth Habit – Arching, Mounding & Weeping

Butterfly bushes showcase several interesting growth habits – from arching branches, rounded mounds, and low-spreading forms to gracefully weeping stems.

Arching butterfly bushes have upright canes that gently arch outwards. Many standard varieties have this graceful, vase-like form including:

• ‘Pink Delight’
• ‘Miss Ruby’
• ‘Lo & Behold ‘Blue Chip’

Mounding butterfly bushes are densely branched, creating a rounded ball or bun shape. Two examples are:

• ‘Blue Hill’ – Neat round mound with violet blooms.
• ‘Miss Molly’ – Compact mound with deep pinkish-red flowers.

Weeping or cascading butterfly bushes have drooping stems that give a fountain-like effect. Choice weeping varieties include:

• ‘Pink Cascade’ – Willowy pink flowers on arching stems.
• ‘Flower Power’ – Purple blooms cascade gracefully downward.
• ‘Bodacious Raspberry Profusion’ – Large raspberry flowers on weeping stems.

So whether you like the classic vase shape, a tidy rounded mound, or weeping fountain effect, there’s a butterfly bush to match your preferred form.

By Special Features – Scented, Variegated & More

Butterfly bushes also offer some special features like fragrance, variegated foliage, sterile blooms, and extended bloom times.

Fragrant butterfly bushes fill the garden with lovely scents. Some scented varieties include:

• ‘Pink Delight’ – Sweet honey fragrance.
• ‘Miss Ruby’ – Notes of lemon and honey.
• ‘Nanho Blue’ – Intoxicating violet aroma.

Variegated butterfly bushes have foliage striped or edged in creamy white. A popular variegated variety is:

• ‘Gold Splash’ – Green and yellow variegated leaves with lavender blooms.

Sterile butterfly bushes produce few to no seeds or self-sown seedlings. They are non-invasive choices like:

• ‘Blue Chip’
• ‘Lo & Behold’ series
• ‘Flutterby’ series

Extended blooming butterfly bushes flower for up to 5 months. Some reblooming varieties are:

• ‘Miss Molly’
• ‘Pink Micro Chip’
• ‘Tutti Fruiti’

Finding a butterfly bush with desired special features like scent, variegation, sterility, or long bloom time adds fun options.

Top Types for Containers & Hanging Baskets

Many compact butterfly bush varieties thrive in containers, making them movable garden accents. The dwarf cultivars also work nicely in hanging baskets.

• ‘Blue Chip’ – Vibrant purple-blue blooms cascade from a container.
• ‘Tutti Fruiti’ – Grows just 12-18 inches tall, ideal for small pots.
• ‘Miss Violet’ – Neon purple flowers on a compact 2-foot shrub.
• ‘Pink Micro Chip’ – Profuse tiny pink blooms smother this petite plant.

With proper watering and fertilization, containerized butterfly bushes will bloom happily on a patio, balcony, or entryway.

Butterfly Bush Uses in Landscaping

With such diversity among the different types of butterfly bushes, they can serve many functions in landscape designs.

• Small dwarf varieties work as low foundation plants, edging, or in rock gardens.
• Compact bushes make great specimens or focal points.
• The larger shrubs make bold background plantings, screens, or hedges.
• Arching varieties help create a graceful layered effect.
• Weeping and cascading types are ideal for slopes, banks, and raised planters.
• Containers of dwarf butterfly bushes add pops of color by entries or patios.

Non-Invasive Butterfly Bush Options

Some types of butterfly bushes produce copious seed and can spread aggressively. But many new compact sterile hybrids are non-invasive.

Look for butterfly bushes in the trademarked Lo & Behold®, Flutterby®, and Pugster® series. These are sterile, non-seed producing varieties that cannot escape boundaries.

Other non-invasive types are the dwarf varieties like ‘Blue Chip’, ‘Miss Molly’, and ‘Pink Micro Chip’ which do not self sow.

With so many butterfly-friendly shrubs to pick from, it’s easy to find beautiful non-invasive options to brighten your landscape.

How to Use Butterfly Bushes in Gardens

Here are some tips for successfully incorporating butterfly bushes into your landscape or garden:

• Use dwarf varieties in container gardens, as edging plants, or in rock gardens.
• Plant mid-size compact butterfly bushes as specimen plants or foundation shrubs.
• Work the larger butterfly bush cultivars into the background or as bold focal points in beds.
• Mix colors for a rainbow effect – purple, pink, white and yellow create lively contrasts.
• Include different growth habits like arching, mounding, and weeping forms for interest.
• Add fragrant varieties near patios and walkways where their scent can be enjoyed.
• Use non-invasive types if seedlings are a concern in your area.
• Attract loads of butterflies by planting different types of