Butterfly Bush 'Bicolor'

Selected from more than 2,000 seedlings, 'Bicolor' was first grown at Dr. Michael Dirr's test gardens at the University of Georgia. Well, pandemonium broke loose whenever a group of visitors caught sight of these long, elegant trusses shimmering with deep gold and pale lavender tones!

The blooms arise all summer long, standing out nicely against the soft gray-green foliage. Most bloom trusses are about 5 to 6 inches long, but they can reach up to 10 inches at the end of the season, with an intoxicating scent just as overwhelming as their color show! You will find yourself making excuses to visit this Buddleia in the sunny border or on the patio. The bloomstalks are lovely as cut flowers, too, so be sure to bring this color and scent indoors!

'Bicolor' reaches 6 feet tall and 5 feet wide, and benefits from a good shearing in late winter to encourage better branching and more blooms. It grows easily in any sunny, well-drained spot, demonstrating fantastic drought tolerance and indifference to extreme heat and humidity. For best bloom color, keep the plant very well watered during growth and flowering. The butterflies will love this shrub . . . but not as much as you will! Zones 5-9.