Black Knight Butterfly Bush - Live Plants, HARDY PERENNIAL

The Black Knight butterfly bush is a hardy perennial shrub with deep violet-purple, fragrant flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds.It is a fast-growing and low-maintenance plant that provides color from mid-summer until the first frost. Perfect for borders, cottage gardens, rose gardens, and butterfly gardens, this plant is an exceptional addition. Its blooming season is in the summer and fall, when most other shrubs are not in bloom. Additionally, this robust perennial is a popular choice for fresh-cut flowers.

• Vigorous grower
• Attracts butterflies
• Low maintenance

Planting Instructions: 

• Flowers: The showy, sweetly scented flowers appear in long, conical spikes, typically 4 to 10 inches in length. They are an intense dark purple, and appear at the tips of new growth.

• Foliage: The bush has dark green, lance-shaped leaves with a white underside that provides a striking contrast to the deep purple blooms.

• Growth habit: This variety has an arching, multi-stemmed habit and can grow quite large. If not pruned, it can reach 6 to 12 feet tall.

• Hardiness: It is cold-hardy and grows well in USDA zones 5 through 9.

• Pollinator magnet: As its name implies, the Buddleja emits a sweet, honey-like fragrance that is particularly attractive to butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. 

Care and planting

• Sunlight: Plant the bush in full sun, where it can get at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight a day. Too much shade will result in fewer blooms.

• Soil and water: Use well-drained soil, as butterfly bushes are susceptible to root rot in soggy conditions. They are drought-tolerant once established but benefit from regular watering in the first growing season.

• Pruning: For optimal health and a compact shape, prune the plant hard in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Since flowers grow on new wood, this encourages a more vigorous and prolific bloom cycle. If not pruned, it can become leggy and top-heavy. In colder climates, it may die back to the ground in winter but will grow back from the roots in the spring.

• Invasiveness potential: It is important to note that the Buddleja davidii species can be invasive in some regions due to self-seeding, especially in milder climates. Check local regulations before planting. You can also deadhead spent blooms to prevent the plant from going to seed. 

Uses in the garden

• Borders and mass plantings: The plant's fast growth and showy flowers make it a great choice for shrub borders and mass plantings.

• Pollinator garden: It is an excellent addition to a dedicated pollinator garden or a cottage-style garden where it can attract a variety of beneficial insects.

• Privacy screen: Its mature size makes it suitable for creating a floral privacy screen or hedge.

Specimen plant: The dramatic color and arching habit make it a great stand-alone specimen plant.