Butterfly bush (Buddleja 'Blue Chip' LO AND BEHOLD)
Buddleja 'Blue Chip' LO AND BEHOLD is a miniature Butterfly bush, blooming June-Sept with fragrant blue flowers. Low maintenance, ideal for borders.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Buddleja ‘Blue Chip’ LO AND BEHOLD cultivar is a standout miniature variety of the popular Butterfly bush, valued for its manageable size and season-long floral display. This plant offers intense blue flowers clustered in spike-like terminals, providing continuous color from early summer until the first frost. Its key appeal lies in being highly attractive to essential pollinators like butterflies while avoiding the aggressive seeding habit seen in older varieties.
As a compact deciduous shrub, Buddleja ‘Blue Chip’ LO AND BEHOLD reaches only 1 to 2 feet in height and spread, making it incredibly versatile for smaller landscapes. It thrives when given plenty of sunlight, which ensures robust flowering performance and thick habit. Gardeners find the low maintenance needs and adaptability—including tolerance for clay soil—make this a reliable choice for adding long-lasting visual interest.
This entry into the LO AND BEHOLD series promises the classic Butterfly bush beauty in a refined package. Whether used as an edging plant, in containers, or integrated into mixed borders, the Buddleja ‘Blue Chip’ LO AND BEHOLD delivers superior flowering without the invasive concerns associated with its larger relatives.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Scrophulariaceae
- Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1-2 ft
- Spread: 1-2 ft
- Bloom Time: June to September
- Bloom Description: Blue
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Plant the Buddleja ‘Blue Chip’ LO AND BEHOLD in the spring or fall, ensuring a location that receives full, unobstructed sun for the best results. This shrub adapts well to average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. While it can tolerate clay soil, it benefits from amendment before planting to improve drainage, as it performs poorly in wet, poorly draining conditions.
Maintenance is generally low, but cultural practices significantly impact appearance. Ensure the plant is sited where it receives full sun; lack of sun leads to sparse growth and diminished flowering. Water moderately once established, aiming for soil that dries slightly between waterings. Fertilization is often unnecessary if the site is adequate.
Pruning is a beneficial practice for this compact variety. In colder zones (5 and 6), the plant may die back to the ground and should be treated as a herbaceous perennial, cut back hard in late winter. Even in warmer regions, cutting the shrub close to the ground annually in late winter encourages more vigorous growth and superior flower production. Deadheading spent spikes during the season is reportedly unnecessary, as this cultivar flowers continuously without intervention.
Landscape Uses
The compact nature of the Buddleja ‘Blue Chip’ LO AND BEHOLD makes it a perfect foundation plant for mixed borders where space is limited. Its continuous bloom from June through September fills a critical gap in the summer garden when many other shrubs have finished flowering. Consider planting drifts of this Butterfly bush along the front edges of perennial beds or in cottage-style gardens.
This variety’s small stature (1–2 feet tall) also opens pathways for unique uses, such as a low, flowering ground cover in appropriate spots, or stunning focal points in patio containers. Position it where its fragrant flowers can be enjoyed near sitting areas or walkways. Being highly attractive to pollinators, strategically place it near rose gardens or vegetable patches to encourage beneficial insect activity nearby.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
Noteworthy Characteristics
The genus Buddleja, commonly known as butterfly bush, comprises about 100 species of shrubs, trees, and climbers native across several continents. Buddleja ‘Blue Chip’ LO AND BEHOLD is a key introduction in the LO AND BEHOLD series, developed to provide manageable sizes. This hybrid features intense blue flower clusters that bloom continually and are exceptionally fragrant, reliably drawing in butterflies. Proper pronunciation follows the original spelling, Buddleja, with a silent ‘j’.
Tolerances
- Rabbit
- Clay Soil
Potential Problems
Buddleja ‘Blue Chip’ LO AND BEHOLD generally exhibits good resistance to serious insect or disease issues, though nematodes can occasionally be problematic in the southern United States. A significant advantage is that rabbits tend to leave this shrub alone. Unlike some older cultivars, this specific variety resists invasive spread because it produces few seeds and infrequently suckers, making it a responsible landscape choice. Gardeners should still confirm local regulations, although ‘Blue Chip’ is generally not considered invasive where it is sold.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Butterfly bush suitable for?
The Buddleja ‘Blue Chip’ LO AND BEHOLD is suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9.
How large does Buddleja ‘Blue Chip’ LO AND BEHOLD grow?
This dwarf shrub typically reaches a height between 1 to 2 feet and spreads 1 to 2 feet wide at maturity.
What sun exposure does Butterfly bush need?
For optimal flowering and a desirable, compact shape, this plant absolutely requires full sun exposure throughout the day.
When does Buddleja ‘Blue Chip’ LO AND BEHOLD bloom?
This specific cultivar flowers consistently from June until September, displaying masses of blue blossoms.
Conclusion
The Buddleja ‘Blue Chip’ LO AND BEHOLD successfully combines the desirable features of the classic Butterfly bush—dramatic, fragrant flowers—with a small, non-invasive habit. Its low maintenance demands and exceptional bloom time make it a must-have for contemporary gardens and container displays alike. Before planting, confirm that your site offers the required full sun and plan for an annual late-winter pruning to maximize its ornamental performance.
Companion Planting
When designing a border around your Buddleja ‘Blue Chip’ LO AND BEHOLD, select plants that share similar sun and water needs. Consider pairing it with shorter, heat-tolerant perennials like Sedum or Coreopsis, which will thrive in the full sun and medium moisture conditions favored by this Butterfly bush variety. For a cottage garden feel, interplanting with Salvias or Echinacea creates a layered look that maximizes pollinator attraction throughout the summer season.
Wildlife Benefits
Beyond its reputation for attracting butterflies, the Buddleja ‘Blue Chip’ LO AND BEHOLD supports a wide range of beneficial insects due to its continuous, nectar-rich bloom cycle. The fragrant blue spikes are highly visible and accessible to smaller pollinators. Placing this shrub near native milkweed or other host plants can create a powerful beneficial insect corridor in your yard, extending wildlife support throughout the growing season.
