question about planting dwarf buddleia

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bethanski Rochester, NY Oct 15, 2008

I bought a dwarf butterfly bush - the Lo and Behold Blue Chip - to use as a foundation planting in front of our new house. It's going to be part of a replacement bed where poorly maintained boxwoods are currently. The thing is, I'm not sure if we will have time to take out the boxwoods this fall and plant the buddleia. Will the Blue Chip be okay overwintering in the container if I mulch it? Should I plant it somewhere else for the winter and then move it in the spring (I feel like this wouldn't be a good idea...)? Should we make time to get the boxwoods out? Help!

Thank you!

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Oct 15, 2008

What zone are you in? Most butterfly bushes are hardy to zone 5a, although I have family in 5b who have trouble with them not coming back so I'm concerned your area is going to be a bit borderline for them in the first place. And being in a container typically knocks about a zone off the hardiness, so I think it's a bit risky to keep it outdoors in a container. So I'd either see if you can overwinter it somewhere like a basement or garage, or else sink the pot in the ground in a sheltered location somewhere and then mulch well, that way you get the insulating properties of the soil helping you out

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britbrighton Ancram, NY Oct 16, 2008

I have family in Rochester and it gets COLD. I did hear the same about butterfly bushes (not surviving the winter). I just planted two and I am worrying already. I would get it into the ground (as ecrane suggests) and mulch or protect well. Even if you take it out of the pot to plant temporarily for the winter. Chances are it is very small right now, even for a dwarf so it will be easy to move it, come spring...Brit

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