I am thinking about getting the Buddelia Bicolor Butterfly Bush, planting it in full sun, rich soil, fair drainage (we have a clay base and I have amended and amended so should be good).
Is it a fast grower?
Any suggestions? Is the bicolor good for SC?
Thanks in advance
Lorie in SC
'Bicolor' should do well for you. By the middle to late summer, it should be about 7 to 8' tall and wide.
I've got my eye on a new butterfly bush, 'Miss Ruby', that was hybridized with Dirr's 'Attraction' and 'White Ball'. It's the first butterfly bush I've heard of that isn't supposed to reach its full size until year 2. I have several butterfly bushes, the yellow 'Honeycomb' and another lavender one I wintersowed. I prefer the wintersowed one, but maybe I have 'Honeycomb' in the wrong place.
I've discovered that placing a butterfly bush behind perennials will disguise the lower part of the bush which really isn't attractive. That way, the cones of flowers seem to burst into color.
Late next winter, you'll want to cut your 'Bicolor' back to 12", and in several few years, you may also want to cut out some of the old, gnarley stems, as well.
Hope this helps~
A fellow Columbian~
