Buddleja davidii Nanho Purple - Butterfly Bush

Buddleja davidii 'Nanho Purple' is a beautiful dwarf variety, with a compact and gracefully open habit, ideal for small spaces. This hardy bush produces deep purple panicles, 15 cm (5.9 in) long, from June to October. Multitudes of small violet flowers with red-orange hearts emerge from dense clusters, against a beautiful silver-green foliage, attracting numerous butterflies with their sweet fragrance. Its modest size makes it particularly suitable for small spaces and perennial borders.

Buddleja davidii 'Nanho Purple' is a deciduous bush with a spreading and compact habit, belonging to the Scrophulariaceae (Buddlejaceae) family. It reaches approximately 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in height and spread. It produces stout and arching branches, giving it a lovely bushy and weeping habit. With rapid growth, it flowers from June to October, producing abundant dense clusters of flowers, 15 cm (5.9 in) long. These flowers are intense purple with a red-orange eye, and release a sweet fragrance that is highly attractive to pollinating insects. Its ornamental foliage consists of long silver-green leaves, covered with a grey down on the underside. The leaves are pointed and lanceolate, measuring 12 cm to 20 cm (4.7 in to 7.9 in) in length. This hardy bush can tolerate occasional drought in deep soil.

Whether planted individually or in groups, as a hedge or at the back of a perennial border, Buddleja davidii 'Nanho Purple' will enhance any garden. Its subtly silver-toned foliage will complement red roses or the colourful panicles of summer lilacs. It can also be planted in a small free-standing hedge to separate themed areas in the garden. It adapts well to coastal areas and can be grown in large pots. In a monochromatic theme, for example, it can be paired with a small purple Rudbeckia like the variety 'Little Magnus', whose contrasting flower shape will complement it nicely. These fragrant flowers are also beautiful in bouquets.