TThis is a relatively new species of butterfly bush, known as Buddleia x weyeriana or 'bicolor'. It is actually somewhat difficult to obtain as most suppliers sell out very fast. The flowers are an amazing lavender in bud, opening to peachy pink with a yellow cast as they age. You may order plants online here:

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General Care Information

DEAD-HEADING

Dead-heading with Butterfly Bushes is just as important as dead-heading with other flowers. As the flower cone finishes its blooming cycle and the flowers have dried up and turned brown cut the cone off at the base. Cut the cone off where the dried flower ends and the stem begins as the next cones sprout out from behind the old cone. By dead-heading this assures that the bush will put its energy into producing more flowers rather than seed.

PRUNING

Butterfly bushes should be trimmed every year. For younger plants I would recommend cutting back to about a foot in height. This can be done in either the fall or the spring, whichever you prefer. I would base your decision of when to prune on how severe your winters are. If you get alot of snow normally during the winter season prune in the fall - this is so that any heavy snow that may accumulate on the bush will not crush it or break branches.

Older bushes should be cut back to 3 or 4 feet (keep in mind that some of these bushes will reach 12-15 feet in height so you will be cutting quite a bit off!). Also, if you prune in the fall do not do it too early...November is the recommended time. Depending on the severity of the winter, a butterfly bush may appear dead in the spring and may take longer than other plants to show new growth. Be patient. If you decide not to prune the bush it will still produce flowers but I find that not as many are produced and the cones tend to be smaller.

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