I purchased a Black Knight butterfly bush as a focal point (other than rocks) in my Rock flower bed. It grows six to nine feet tall and as much across. Here it is in its stunning majesty.
Okay, so it's only 18" tall and about that across. I truly didn't expect to see any blooms on it at all this first year but am pleasantly surprised I am.
They do grow fast. I bought a Black Knight this spring too. It was only about 5 or 6 inches tall and now it's about 4 feet tall and full of blooms. I love the Black Knight (almost as much as the butterflies!).
Well, isn't it cute. : ) I have a white one I need to get in the ground, it has bloomed a couple of times already. I really like them, but just can't figure where I really want mine planted. Decisions, decisions.... : )
~Lucy
Four feet, Nature Lover? I'm jealous! *grin*
I didn't get mine in the ground until the end of May and for the longest time I thought it was doing nothing. Then a couple weeks ago I noticed it looking like a bush and a few days ago growing blooms.
I took the photo while bending over it; thinking my "Black Knight" is purple. Sitting in the house 20 yards away the blooms look darker.
I noticed three fritillaries frolocking around them yesterday afternoon.
my BF bush has been under near-constant attack by spidermites last season &
this. I've sprayed 4 times with insecticidal soap. I finally had to resort to the bad
stuff to kill them (I covered all surrounding plants before I sprayed). How long do
I have to wait before using the soap again? I guess I'll just keep spraying period-
ically with the soap till the fall, then cut the bush way back, dig up the surrounding
mulch, re-mulch & apply some oil. Does that sound about right? Dang mites
almost killed my entire garden last year before I got 'em.
