ROYAL RED BUTTERFLY BUSH

ROYAL RED BUTTERFLY BUSH Homeowner Growing & Maintenance Tips

• Recommended Soil:
• Plant in well-drained soil where excess water can move freely away from the root system.
• Royal Red Butterfly Bush adapts to a range of soil types and can perform in clay when drainage is adequate.
• Average garden soil is generally sufficient; excessively rich soil is unnecessary for strong flowering performance.
• A layer of mulch can help moderate soil temperature and conserve moisture while establishing.
• Sun Exposure:
• Full sun is strongly preferred for vigorous growth, abundant flowers, and a fuller overall habit.
• Aim for at least six hours of direct sunlight each day, with additional sun generally encouraging better flowering.
• Too much shade may result in fewer blooms and looser, less attractive growth.
• Irrigation Needs:
• Water regularly after planting while the root system becomes established.
• Once established, Royal Red Butterfly Bush has good tolerance for occasional dry periods.
• Allow the soil to drain between waterings rather than keeping the root zone continually wet.
• Avoid poorly drained or persistently soggy locations, especially during cool weather.
• Feeding & Nutrients:
• Butterfly bushes generally require only moderate fertility to grow and flower well.
• A balanced, slow-release fertilizer applied in spring can support healthy new growth and summer flowering.
• Avoid excessive fertilization, particularly high-nitrogen feeding that may favor leafy growth over flowers.
• Pruning & Maintenance:
• Royal Red flowers on new growth, making late winter or early spring the preferred time for major pruning.
• Annual pruning can encourage vigorous fresh stems, abundant flowers, and a more attractive overall shape.
• Remove faded flower clusters during the growing season to encourage repeat blooming and limit unwanted seedlings.
• Remove damaged, weak, or dead growth as needed to maintain a healthy framework.

Family: Scropholariaceae · Common Name: Butterfly Bush

FREE with every plant purchased:

• The Sooner Guarantee: For details, click here!
• A pre-applied, pre-measured amount of time release fertilizer that keeps your plant well nourished for up to one year.
• Pre-hydrated Hydro-Gels are included in the top of each container to use when planting as they help retain soil moisture, and plants will establish more quickly with less transplant shock. Plants will also survive drought-like conditions and accidental missed waterings better.
• Planting and Care Instruction brochure.
• Catalogs of new and exciting plant brands, such as Garden Debut® and Proven Winners®.

We use and recommend www.dripdepot.com for our irrigation needs, from simple to install micro and drip systems, to commercial grade irrigation parts and supplies.

Growing and Maintenance Tips for Buddleia

Butterfly Bush prefer well draining soils and will turn yellow and defoliate when kept overly wet. Flower color can vary slightly based on environmental conditions, i.e., temperatures, soil ph, sunlight, fertility.

Buddleia Interesting Notes

Butterfly Bush prefer well draining soils and will turn yellow and defoliate when kept overly wet. Flower color can vary slightly based on enviremental conditions, i.e., temperatures, soil ph, sunlight, fertility.

Interesting Notes About ROYAL RED BUTTERFLY BUSH

• An American Royalty Story: Royal Red Butterfly Bush was bred by Karle A. Lucal and introduced by the Good & Reese nursery of Ohio. The cultivar was patented in 1942, giving this garden classic more than eight decades of documented history.
• Royal Runs in the Family: Royal Red was bred using the older Royal Purple Butterfly Bush in its parentage. Royal Red later contributed its own genetics to additional butterfly bush breeding, including Nanho Purple, making it part of a notable horticultural family tree.
• A Royal Seal of Approval: Royal Red earned recognition from the Royal Horticultural Society and has held its prestigious Award of Garden Merit. During RHS trials, its Award of Garden Merit was reconfirmed in 2010—a remarkable achievement for a cultivar introduced generations earlier.
• Red Is in the Name, Not Quite the Paintbox: Despite the name Royal Red, its flowers are better described as rich maroon-purple or reddish-purple rather than true fire-engine red. The deep red undertones are precisely what give the blooms their unusually warm, saturated appearance among classic butterfly bushes.
• Two Botanists Hidden in One Name: The botanical name Buddleia davidii honors two people: the genus commemorates English botanist Reverend Adam Buddle, while davidii honors missionary-naturalist Father Armand David, whose explorations in China brought attention to the species that eventually became a worldwide garden favorite.