Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii) is a favorite in perennial gardens. One reason is that it is so low maintenance. Cut it back hard at the beginning of the season and then sit back and watch it shoot up 5 - 6 and bloom until frost. Few pests or diseases bother Buddleia and butterflies really are attracted to it. What's not to love?

Well for some gardeners, Buddleia bushes are simply too large or too unkempt looking for their gardens.

That's not a problem any longer. Three new varieties of Buddleia were recently introduced from England and are being distributed under the Proven Winners label as the English Butterfly Series™. These new Butterfly bushes grow to only 4-5 feet and stay rather dense and tidy. They can even be grown in containers.

PEACOCK™ has rich pink blooms, the largest blooms among the series. PURPLE EMPEROR™ boasts large mauve-purple flowers. And ADONIS BLUE™ has deep blue flowers. All three bloom profusely and have the added bonus of a light fragrance.

As with the old fashioned Butterfly Bush, the only real maintenance is cutting back the woody growth to about 8 inches, in early spring. The English Butterfly Series™ prefers full sun and are hardy in USDA Zones 5 - 9.