Butterfly bush (Buddleja 'Pink Micro Chip')
Discover the compact 'Pink Micro Chip' Butterfly bush, featuring fragrant magenta-pink flowers from June to September in zones 5-9.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Buddleja ‘Pink Micro Chip’ is a highly desirable dwarf selection known for consistently delivering season-long color and attracting pollinators. As a relatively compact Butterfly bush variety, it fits beautifully into smaller garden spaces where larger cultivars might overwhelm. This plant provides showy, fragrant magenta-pink flowers that bloom profusely from early summer straight through September.
This deciduous shrub offers excellent low-maintenance appeal, providing substantial visual performance without demanding constant vigilant care. Its refined size, reaching only 1.5 to 2 feet tall, makes Buddleja ‘Pink Micro Chip’ an excellent choice for edging borders or adding mid-border structure. Gardeners value its ability to thrive through heat while offering a critical flash of color late in the season.
A key feature of Buddleja ‘Pink Micro Chip’ is its reduced fertility, especially notable compared to older Butterfly bush types. This characteristic decreases concerns about self-seeding, making it a more responsible choice for landscapes, while still providing the traditional garden benefits associated with the genus.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Scrophulariaceae
- Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1.5-2 ft
- Spread: 1.5 ft
- Bloom Time: June to September
- Bloom Description: Magenta-pink
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Plant Buddleja ‘Pink Micro Chip’ during the spring after the danger of frost has passed, allowing the roots ample time to establish before the summer heat. It performs best when situated in full sun, which is critical for maximizing bloom production. Amend heavy or poor soils to ensure good drainage, as this shrub negatively reacts to wet, poorly draining conditions.
Watering should be consistent—aiming for medium moisture levels—especially during the first establishment year. Once mature, it shows resilience but still requires attention during prolonged dry spells. Fertilization is generally not necessary if the soil is average, but a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring can boost vigor.
Pruning is essential for maintaining the best shape and superior flowering display of this Butterfly bush. In USDA Zones 5 and 6, where plants often die back partially or fully to the ground, cut the stems back severely (like a herbaceous perennial) in very late winter or early spring. Even in warmer zones, cutting them back close to the ground annually encourages vigorous new growth and the best flower formation. Deadheading faded spikes might encourage sporadic rebloom throughout the season.
Landscape Uses
The dwarf stature of Buddleja ‘Pink Micro Chip’ opens up numerous possibilities for landscape design. Owing to its compact nature, it shines as an informal border plant along walkways or defining the edge of flower beds where larger shrubs would obscure sightlines. It integrates seamlessly into cottage gardens, providing vertical accents among perennials.
Because these prolific bloomers are magnets for butterflies and other beneficial insects, incorporating them into designated butterfly gardens is a must. Furthermore, the fragrant, deep magenta-pink flowers make them popular choices for cutting gardens; stems cut during the morning often last well in arrangements.
Consider pairing this variety with late-blooming perennials that share its preference for full sun and well-drained soil, such as coneflowers or ornamental grasses. The fine texture of the Buddleja ‘Pink Micro Chip’ foliage contrasts nicely with broader-leafed plants, adding depth to mixed borders.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
Noteworthy Characteristics
Buddleja is a genus of about 100 species of mainly shrubs but also some trees and climbers. Commonly called butterfly bush, they are very attractive to butterflies and other pollinators. The specific cultivar ‘Pink Micro Chip’ is a dwarf selection featuring 6-inch panicles of small, fragrant, magenta-pink flowers, and was derived from crossing ‘Lilac Chip’ and ‘Miss Molly’. Crucially, the male flowers of ‘Pink Micro Chip’ lack stamens, and the female flowers are nearly sterile, making it significantly less likely to spread aggressively than many other butterfly bush types.
Tolerances
- Rabbit
- Clay Soil
Potential Problems
Buddleja ‘Pink Micro Chip’ is generally appreciated for its low incidence of pest or disease issues. Nematodes can occasionally pose a challenge, particularly in the hotter, humid climates of the Southern United States. Rabbits typically avoid grazing on this species. While many Butterfly bush varieties are notorious for spreading invasively, this cultivar is considered essentially sterile and is far less problematic in that regard. However, gardeners must always check local regulations regarding planting potentially invasive genera. Avoid planting in areas that experience persistently wet or poorly draining soil, as this will quickly lead to root issues and plant decline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Butterfly bush (Buddleja ‘Pink Micro Chip’) suitable for?
Buddleja ‘Pink Micro Chip’ performs reliably in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9.
How large does Buddleja ‘Pink Micro Chip’ grow?
This dwarf cultivar typically matures to a height between 1.5 and 2 feet tall, with a similar spread of about 1.5 feet wide.
What sun exposure does Buddleja ‘Pink Micro Chip’ need?
For the best performance, including abundant bloom time from June to September, this shrub requires full sun exposure daily.
When does Butterfly bush bloom?
The Buddleja ‘Pink Micro Chip’ produces its attractive magenta-pink flowers throughout the summer and into early fall, generally blooming from June to September.
Conclusion
The Buddleja ‘Pink Micro Chip’ offers gardeners a fantastic combination of high visual impact, attractive fragrance, and low maintenance, all in a manageable dwarf size. Its reliable summer-to-fall bloom cycle makes this Butterfly bush an essential addition for continuous color. Before planting, ensure your site receives full sun and confirm hardiness zone compatibility within USDA Zones 5-9.
Companion Planting
When planning an integrated garden design around your Buddleja ‘Pink Micro Chip’, select companions that thrive in similar full-sun, medium-water environments. Good partners include various Sedum varieties, which offer contrasting textures as the summer progresses. Shasta Daisies or Coreopsis are excellent choices, echoing the sunny disposition of the Butterfly bush while providing blooms when the Buddleja might be slightly less vigorous mid-season.
Wildlife Benefits
The genus Buddleja consistently ranks high for supporting pollinator populations, and ‘Pink Micro Chip’ is no exception, despite its low reproductive capability. The rich magenta-pink flower panicles are exceptionally attractive to various butterflies, offering them a reliable nectar source throughout the long growing season. Planting this shrub near seating areas enhances wildlife viewing without requiring extensive specialized care or heavy pruning typical of high-maintenance flowering shrubs.
