The Miss Violet Butterfly Bush, botanically known as Buddleia ‘Miss Violet’, is a part of the same “Miss Series” of butterfly bushes that includes Miss Molly and Miss Ruby. It’s been bred for a more compact size and vivid flower color, along with a less aggressive seeding habit compared to traditional Buddleia davidii cultivars.
Key characteristics of the Miss Violet Butterfly Bush include:
– **Flowers:** The most notable feature of Miss Violet is its vibrant purple-violet flowers. These blooms are rich and saturated, presenting in long, dense panicles that are highly attractive to pollinators. The flowers also exude a sweet fragrance, which can be a delightful addition to any garden space.
– **Foliage:** The foliage is a deep green color, providing a lush background that makes the purple flowers stand out even more. The leaves are narrow and pointed, typical of the Buddleia genus.
– **Size:** Miss Violet is a dwarf cultivar, usually growing to about 4 to 5 feet in height and spread. Its compact size makes it an excellent choice for smaller gardens or spaces where a full-sized butterfly bush would be too large.
– **Blooming Season:** Like other plants in the “Miss Series”, Miss Violet blooms from early summer until frost. It has a long flowering season, providing a consistent source of nectar for butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees.
– **Attracting Wildlife:** The flowers are particularly attractive to butterflies, hence the common name “butterfly bush”. It’s also popular among other pollinators, making it a good choice for a pollinator-friendly garden.
– **Care:** Miss Violet prefers full sun and well-draining soil. It is drought-tolerant once established and can be pruned back in late winter or early spring to encourage more prolific blooming and maintain a tidy shape.
– **Hardiness:** This plant is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9. In the colder regions of its range, it may die back to the roots in winter and re-sprout in the spring.
Miss Violet is also less likely to seed and become invasive than older butterfly bush varieties, making it a more environmentally responsible choice for gardeners who are concerned about the potential invasiveness of Buddleia species. With its striking flower color and smaller stature, Miss Violet is an attractive addition to mixed borders, flower beds, and even as a stand-alone specimen in a container.
