Dark Dynasty is certainly a plant with a powerful regal authority. Blooming from summer into fall the large fragrant royal purple panicles emerge just in time to provide a feast for butterflies and other pollinators. We like this butterfly bush because it's got a nice compact and rounded habit. Unlike other butterfly bushes it keeps a dense shade and grows just 3' tall and 3 to 3 ½’ wide in two years. Once established it will relabily bloom and remain a staple in your garden for years to come.

This small to medium sized upright selection of butterfly bush is sure to capture the hearts of pollinators and plant enthusiasts everywhere. The butterfly bush is a staple of many gardens due to its fast growth rate, hardiness, and prolific blooms. Arriving in late summer, the bottle shaped blooms of this buddleia are 7-9 inches in length and a deep rich purple that adds and air of authority to the garden. Butterly bushes are named such because they are a bounty for pollinators attracting hummingbirds, bees, butterflies and other pollinators to their sweet-scented blooms.

Photos courtesy of Walter Gardens

General care for any tree or shrub is easy, but like any living thing will require your attention. Please educate yourself and follow these simple rules.

Buddleia ' Dark Dynasty' MONARCH® Collection

Buddleias - Butterfly Bush - are most successful when planted in rich, well drained soil high in organic matter. They benefit from alkaline conditions so periodic treatment of lime can be beneficial to growth and flower production. Once established buddleias are moderately drought resistant, but should be monitored for stress during extended periods of dry weather. Pruning is suggested especially in northern locations in order to stimulate growth, cutting them back to about 12 inches promotes new growth and more flowers. Pruning also promotes denser more compact plants, and will restore plants that have become stringy, thin or open. Similar to crape myrtles buddleias break dormancy late in the spring, so don't worry if they are still sticks when the rest of your plants are leafed out. Just be patient and they will explode with growth by mid to late spring.