Buddleia ‘Nanho Blue’ – Buddleja davidii (Dwarf Blue Butterfly Bush, Live Plants)

The Buddleia ‘Nanho Blue’ (Buddleja davidii ‘Nanho Blue’) is a compact, dwarf butterfly bush that turns any sunny spot into a pollinator party. From early summer into fall, graceful arching branches are tipped with long, tapering spikes of fragrant lavender-blue flowers, beautifully set off by narrow, silvery-green foliage. Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds cannot resist it, and neither will you, especially when it is planted near a patio or walkway where the sweet, honey-like scent can be enjoyed up close. As a result, this classic, easy-care shrub delivers months of color on a tidy, manageable plant.

Why Grow a Buddleia ‘Nanho Blue’?

• Butterfly & pollinator magnet – fragrant flower spikes draw butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds all summer long.
• Long bloom season – nonstop lavender-blue color from early summer into fall.
• Compact & tidy – a dwarf selection that stays around 4–6 feet, perfect for borders and large containers.
• Tough & easy – also fast-growing, drought- and salt-tolerant once established, and deer-resistant.
• Silvery foliage – narrow, grayish-green leaves are a handsome foil for the blue blooms.

Looking for more flowering color? Browse our Flowering Plants and Shrubs & Bushes collections.

Plant Specifications at a Glance

• Botanical name: Buddleja davidii ‘Nanho Blue’ (dwarf butterfly bush, summer lilac)
• Plant type: Deciduous flowering shrub (semi-evergreen in mild, frost-free climates)
• Plant family: Scrophulariaceae (the figwort family)
• Mature size: about 4–6 feet tall and 3–5 feet wide
• Flowers: Fragrant, tapering lavender-blue spikes (4–10 inches) from early summer into fall
• Foliage: Narrow, silvery gray-green leaves
• Notable traits: Butterfly- and pollinator-friendly; fragrant; drought- and salt-tolerant; deer-resistant; fast-growing
• Cold Hardiness Zones: 5–9

Buddleia ‘Nanho Blue’ Care & Growing Guide

Butterfly bush is famously easy to grow. Follow these guidelines:

• Sunlight: Full sun for the most flowers and the best fragrance. However, it tolerates light shade, where it blooms less.
• Water: Water regularly to establish a strong root system, and more often in extreme heat. Once mature, it is quite drought-tolerant and needs only occasional watering.
• Soil: Adapts to most soils but must have good drainage, since it will not tolerate soggy, wet ground. In addition, amend heavy clay to improve drainage.
• Cold Hardiness Zone: 5–9. In colder zones it dies back in winter and resprouts vigorously from the roots in spring. However, it is simply late to leaf out, so do not give up on it too early.
• Pruning: Flowers form on new growth, so prune hard in late winter or early spring, cutting the plant back to about 12–15 inches to rejuvenate it. In addition, deadhead spent flower spikes through summer to keep new blooms coming.

Please note – responsible planting: Buddleja davidii can self-seed and is considered invasive in some regions. In fact, it is listed as a noxious weed in Oregon and Washington, so we cannot ship it to those states, and aggressive spreading has been reported in parts of the eastern U.S. Therefore, deadheading spent flowers before they set seed helps prevent unwanted spread (and is required by law in some states), so please deadhead and check your local guidelines.

Ways to Use Buddleia ‘Nanho Blue’ in the Landscape

This compact, fragrant shrub fits sunny, pollinator-friendly designs. Popular uses for the Buddleia ‘Nanho Blue’ include:

• Butterfly and pollinator gardens
• Also mixed shrub borders and flower beds
• Mass plantings for a sea of summer color
• Similarly, large containers and patio pots
• Cottage gardens and cut-flower gardens

It pairs beautifully with other sun-loving, pollinator-friendly bloomers. For example, gardeners often combine it with Mexican Petunia ‘Purple Showers’, the bright red Scarlet Sage, or fragrant Society Garlic.

What You’ll Receive

These are live Buddleia ‘Nanho Blue’ starter plants, grown and shipped by Carlo’s Plant Farm. Each plant is less than 12 inches tall when we ship it. The listing photos show mature plants of the same species. That way, you can see how yours will look as they grow and bloom. Finally, choose your preferred bundle size using the options above.

Also, due to different state laws, we reserve the right to charge extra fees where necessary to comply. As noted above, we cannot ship this plant to Oregon or Washington.

Ordering, Shipping & Returns

Every order ships free and is insured against loss or damage in transit. For full details on how we pack and send your plants, processing and delivery times, and what to do in the rare case of a problem, please review our Shipping Policy and Terms & Conditions before purchasing. By placing an order, you agree to those terms.

Buddleia ‘Nanho Blue’ FAQ

Growing & Care Questions

Responsible Planting, Hardiness & Shipping Questions