Overview

Introducing the captivating Buddleia Miss Molly butterfly bush, a magnificent living plant that promises to transform your garden into a haven for pollinators. This particular variety, known for its striking sangria-red blooms, is a true showstopper. Unlike many larger varieties, ‘Miss Molly’ offers a more compact growth habit, making it an excellent choice for smaller gardens, containers, or mixed borders. Each flower cluster releases a delightful fragrance, adding another layer of sensory pleasure to your outdoor space. As a live plant, it arrives ready to be planted and begin its journey of growth and beauty, offering a continuous display of color throughout the growing season. The Buddleia Miss Molly butterfly bush is a robust and rewarding plant for any gardener looking to add both visual appeal and ecological benefit.

The botanical name for this species is Buddleia x ‘Miss Molly’, commonly known as butterfly bush. This deciduous shrub is celebrated for its ability to draw butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects, contributing to a healthier garden ecosystem. Its unique deep red color is a standout, providing a rich contrast to green foliage. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting, the Buddleia Miss Molly butterfly bush is an easy-to-grow plant that offers immense satisfaction and a dynamic display of nature’s beauty.

Key Benefits

The Buddleia Miss Molly butterfly bush offers a multitude of advantages for any garden. Its compact size and vibrant blooms make it a versatile and highly desirable addition. Here are some of the key benefits:

• Attracts Pollinators: This plant is a magnet for butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, making your garden a vibrant hub of activity. The fragrant flowers are especially appealing to these beneficial insects, aiding in local pollination.
• Stunning Sangria-Red Blooms: The deep, rich sangria-red flowers provide a dramatic splash of color that stands out in any landscape. This unique hue adds elegance and warmth to your garden palette.
• Compact Growth Habit: Unlike some larger butterfly bush varieties, ‘Miss Molly’ maintains a more manageable size. This makes it perfect for smaller gardens, patio containers, or as a focal point without overwhelming other plants.
• Fragrant Flowers: Enjoy the sweet, alluring scent emanating from the abundant blooms. The delightful fragrance enhances the sensory experience of your garden, especially on warm summer evenings.
• Drought Tolerant: Once established, the Buddleia Miss Molly butterfly bush is remarkably tolerant of dry conditions, requiring less frequent watering and making it a water-wise choice for sustainable gardening.
• Low Maintenance: This shrub is relatively easy to care for, requiring minimal pruning to maintain its shape and encourage continuous blooming. It’s an ideal choice for gardeners seeking high impact with low effort.
• Long Blooming Period: ‘Miss Molly’ provides a prolonged display of flowers, typically blooming from summer through fall, ensuring continuous color and pollinator visits for an extended season.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Buddleia Miss Molly butterfly bush is straightforward, ensuring a season full of vibrant blooms and buzzing visitors. This hardy shrub thrives with proper attention to its basic needs. It prefers a location that receives full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. Adequate sunlight is crucial for maximizing flower production and maintaining the plant’s compact form. If planted in a location with insufficient light, flowering may be reduced, and the plant might become leggy. Ensure good air circulation around the plant to prevent fungal issues.

When it comes to watering, the Buddleia Miss Molly butterfly bush prefers consistently moist soil, especially during its establishment period. Once mature, it becomes quite drought tolerant, but regular watering during prolonged dry spells will promote better flowering. The soil should be well-draining; avoid heavy, waterlogged soils which can lead to root rot. A good quality garden soil amended with compost will provide the ideal growing medium. This plant is hardy in USDA Zones 5-9, tolerating a range of temperatures. In colder zones, apply a thick layer of mulch around the base in late fall to protect the roots. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced slow-release granular fertilizer to support vigorous growth and abundant blooms. Deadheading spent flowers will encourage new blooms and prevent self-seeding, which can sometimes lead to invasive growth in certain regions. Pruning should be done in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges, cutting back older stems to about 12-18 inches from the ground to encourage a bushier habit and more flowers. For those looking for a fragrant butterfly bush, ‘Miss Molly’ delivers on all fronts.

Size & Details

This offering is for a Buddleia Miss Molly butterfly bush live plant, typically shipped in a 4-inch nursery pot. At maturity, this compact butterfly bush generally reaches a height of 4-5 feet and a similar spread, making it an excellent choice for various garden applications, from mixed borders to container gardening. Its moderate growth rate means it will establish quickly and begin to flower in its first growing season. The plant is ready for immediate planting upon arrival, ideally in spring or early summer to allow for establishment before colder weather. Expect a profusion of sangria-red blooms from early summer through fall, providing continuous interest. The plant is well-rooted and carefully packaged to ensure it arrives in optimal health, ready to thrive in your garden. The robust nature of the Buddleia Miss Molly butterfly bush ensures it will become a long-lasting and cherished component of your landscape.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: The Buddleia Miss Molly butterfly bush is a compact variety, typically reaching a mature height and spread of 4-5 feet. Its manageable size makes it suitable for various garden spaces.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: This is an outdoor shrub, perfectly suited for garden beds, borders, or large containers. It thrives in full sun conditions in USDA Zones 5-9.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: The Buddleia Miss Molly butterfly bush requires full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight daily, to ensure the best flowering and healthy growth.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, this is considered a low-maintenance shrub. Once established, it is drought-tolerant and requires minimal care, making it an excellent choice for gardeners of all experience levels.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your Buddleia Miss Molly butterfly bush will arrive as a healthy, live plant in a 4-inch nursery pot, carefully packaged to withstand transit and ready for planting.
• Q: How long until it blooms? A: This plant typically blooms from early summer through fall in its first growing season, providing a long period of vibrant sangria-red flowers.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: The compact butterfly bush is hardy in USDA Zones 5-9. In colder parts of this range, mulching around the base in winter is recommended for root protection.
• Q: Why is it called a butterfly bush? A: It’s called a butterfly bush because its fragrant, nectar-rich flowers are incredibly attractive to butterflies, as well as bees and hummingbirds, making it a favorite for pollinator gardens.
• Q: Can I grow the sangria red buddleia in a container? A: Yes, due to its compact size, the sangria red buddleia is an excellent choice for growing in large containers on patios or decks, provided it receives adequate sunlight and water.
• Q: What makes this a pollinator friendly shrub? A: The rich nectar content and appealing scent of its flowers, combined with their vibrant color, make the Buddleia Miss Molly butterfly bush highly attractive to a wide range of pollinators, contributing to biodiversity.