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Lo & Behold® butterfly bushes are compact shrubs packed with fragrant, nectar-rich flower spikes. These low-growing Buddleia bloom from summer into fall, need no routine deadheading, and fit easily into borders, containers, slopes, foundation beds, and mass plantings.
Lo & Behold® butterfly bushes have a low, space-saving habit and a long flowering season from summer into fall. Developed from interspecific hybrids at NC State University, the series produces little to no viable seed, but the abundant flower nectar feeds visiting butterflies and hummingbirds. Most varieties stay roughly 1.5 to 3 feet tall.
Low, mounded plants fit into smaller beds, foundation plantings, containers, slopes, and border edges where a traditional butterfly bush can become too large.
Fragrant flower spikes continue developing through the warm season. Routine deadheading is not required to keep Lo & Behold® butterfly bushes flowering.
The series was bred for extremely low fertility. This makes Lo & Behold® different from older butterfly bushes known for spreading by seed, although state sales rules still vary by cultivar.
The series ranges from cool blue-purple and lilac to orchid pink, white, and deep ruby-magenta. Pink Micro Chip has one of the smallest footprints, Purple Haze spreads wider than the others, and Ruby Chip® brings the richest warm flower color.
| Variety | Flower Color | Mature Size | Zones | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lo & Behold Ruby Chip® Butterfly Bush | Ruby-magenta | 30–32" H × 30–32" W | 5–9 | Deepest warm flower color in the series |
| Lo and Behold® Blue Chip Jr Butterfly Bush | Blue-purple | 1.5–2.5' H × 1.5–2.5' W | 5–9 | Compact all-purpose choice for beds & mass plantings |
| Lo and Behold® Pink Micro Chip Butterfly Bush | Orchid pink | 1.5–2' H × 1.5–2' W | 5–9 | Small footprint for edging & containers |
| Lo and Behold® Blue Chip Butterfly Bush | Blue-purple | 2–2.5' H × 2–2.5' W | 5–9 | Original Lo & Behold® selection |
| Lo and Behold® Ice Chip Butterfly Bush | White | 1.5–2' H × 2–2.5' W | 5–9 | Low white-flowering plant for groundcover effects |
| Lo and Behold® Lilac Chip Butterfly Bush | Lavender-purple | 1.5–2' H × 2–2.5' W | 5–9 | Soft lilac color on a low mounded shrub |
| Lo and Behold® Purple Haze Butterfly Bush | Purple-blue | 2–3' H × 3–3.5' W | 5–9 | Broad spreading habit for slopes & groundcover use |
Lo & Behold® butterfly bushes flower on new growth. Their dense clusters of small tubular flowers begin opening in summer and continue into fall, giving the shrubs a much longer flowering window than many spring-blooming shrubs.
Routine deadheading is not required. Faded flowers can be removed for appearance, but the plants continue developing new blooms without constant trimming.
Colors range from the white flowers of Ice Chip to the orchid-pink flowers of Pink Micro Chip and the saturated ruby-magenta spikes of Ruby Chip®.
Full sun and good drainage are the key conditions. Once established, these compact shrubs need relatively little ongoing care.
Plant Lo & Behold® butterfly bushes where they receive at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Strong light supports dense growth and heavy flowering.
Average garden soil is fine as long as excess water can drain away. Butterfly bush is much less tolerant of soggy conditions than lean or occasionally dry soil. Avoid low areas that remain wet.
Keep new plants watered through establishment. Mature Lo & Behold® shrubs tolerate dry periods well, although deep watering during extended drought can reduce stress and wilting.
Avoid cutting Lo & Behold® back in fall. Wait until fresh green growth appears in spring, remove dead stems, and shorten living branches just above healthy buds. These dwarf shrubs usually need less major pruning than large butterfly bushes.
Heavy fertilizing is unnecessary. If growth is weak, apply a light dose of slow-release shrub fertilizer in spring. Excess nitrogen can stimulate leafy growth and reduce flowering.
Lo & Behold® butterfly bushes continue flowering without routine deadheading. Remove old flower spikes only when you want a tidier appearance.
Low height, dense flowering, and good heat tolerance let these shrubs fill places where full-size butterfly bushes are difficult to use.
Most selections stay under 3 feet tall and can live in compact beds and narrow planting spaces.
Their mounded size fits large outdoor planters alongside neighboring annuals and perennials.
Repeat one cultivar to create a broad sweep of summer and fall flowers with a consistent low profile.
Tuck the shrubs among ornamental grasses and perennials to keep flowers coming as neighboring plants move in and out of bloom.
Their limited height works below windows and near the front of deeper foundation plantings.
Low spreading selections such as Purple Haze can cover sunny slopes without developing the height of standard butterfly bushes.
Use the smaller varieties near paths where flowers and visiting butterflies can be seen at close range.
Flower spikes provide nectar through much of summer and into fall. Pair them with host plants and native flowers for a more complete habitat.
Lo & Behold® butterfly bushes handle heat, full sun, and periods of dry weather once their roots are established. They can perform well in exposed beds where more moisture-dependent flowering shrubs struggle.
They do not need rich soil to flower well. Good drainage is far more important. Avoid planting them where water collects after storms or snowmelt.
Butterfly bush also generally resists deer and rabbit damage, although no shrub is completely browse-proof.
Butterflies and hummingbirds visit Lo & Behold® flower spikes for nectar through the warm months. NC State notes that the group produces nectar but no pollen, and is not a host plant for monarch caterpillars. Pair Lo & Behold® with milkweed and other appropriate host plants when the goal is to support the complete butterfly life cycle.
Lo & Behold® butterfly bushes are perfect for container gardens. The dwarf plants provide shrub structure and months of flowers in patio pots.
Choose a container with generous drainage holes and use a free-draining potting mix. Container-grown plants dry faster than shrubs planted in the ground, so check moisture regularly during hot weather.
Pink Micro Chip is the smallest in the series and best for tight container combinations. Ruby Chip® adds a strong magenta-ruby accent.
The low habit can function as a repeated flowering mass, a long-blooming layer in a mixed border, or a compact shrub at the front of a foundation planting.
Repeat several shrubs for a wide band of color that stays relatively low from summer into fall.
Combine Lo & Behold® with perennials, grasses, and other shrubs for an extended layer of summer flowers.
Use the compact shrubs near windows or at the front of deeper beds where a large butterfly bush would block the view.
Plant Addicts offers Lo & Behold® butterfly bushes along with practical plant care, purchase protection, and support from a family-owned online plant nursery.
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Lo & Behold® butterfly bushes were bred for extremely low fertility and produce little to no viable seed, unlike older butterfly bushes that can spread readily in some regions. State regulations and cultivar approvals can change, so check the individual product page for current shipping eligibility before ordering.
Most Lo & Behold® butterfly bushes mature about 1.5 to 3 feet tall. Width varies more by cultivar. Pink Micro Chip stays roughly 1.5 to 2 feet wide, Ruby Chip® reaches about 30 to 32 inches wide, and Purple Haze can spread approximately 3 to 3.5 feet.
Wait until spring and look for fresh green growth before pruning. Butterfly bushes can be slow to break dormancy, especially in colder climates. Avoid fall pruning because leaving the stems in place offers more protection through winter.
Once new growth appears in spring, remove dead or damaged stems and shorten the remaining branches just above healthy buds or fresh leaves. Lo & Behold® plants are dwarf butterfly bushes, so they generally need lighter shaping than large traditional varieties. They flower on new wood, so spring pruning will not remove the coming season's flowers.
No. Routine deadheading is not necessary for Lo & Behold® butterfly bushes to continue flowering. Faded flower spikes can be trimmed for appearance, but new blooms develop without removing every spent flower.
Yes. Give Lo & Behold® butterfly bushes at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Full sun promotes dense growth and the strongest flower production.
Yes. Their compact habits make Lo & Behold® butterfly bushes good candidates for substantial outdoor containers. Use a pot with drainage holes and a free-draining potting mix. Check soil moisture more frequently during hot weather because containers dry faster than garden beds.
Yes. Their flower spikes provide nectar for butterflies, hummingbirds, and other nectar-seeking visitors. Butterfly bush is not a caterpillar host plant, so include milkweed or other appropriate host plants if you want to support butterflies through more stages of their life cycle.
Butterfly bush generally resists deer and rabbit damage, making Lo & Behold® useful where browsing is a recurring problem. Deer resistance does not mean deer-proof, and hungry animals can occasionally sample almost any shrub.
Established Lo & Behold® butterfly bushes tolerate dry periods well. New plants still need regular watering as their root systems develop. Good drainage remains important in both dry and rainy climates.
Approval depends on the specific cultivar and current state regulations. Some Lo & Behold® varieties are approved for sale in Oregon and Washington, but that does not apply automatically to every plant in the series. Check each product page for current shipping restrictions.
Plant Addicts carries Lo & Behold Ruby Chip®, Blue Chip Jr, Pink Micro Chip, Blue Chip, Ice Chip, Lilac Chip, and Purple Haze butterfly bushes online. Availability varies through the growing season, so check the products above for current sizes and inventory.
Choose Ruby Chip® for rich magenta-ruby flowers, Blue Chip or Blue Chip Jr for cool blue-purple, Pink Micro Chip for a small orchid-pink shrub, Ice Chip for white, Lilac Chip for soft lavender-purple, or Purple Haze for a wider spreading habit suited to slopes and broad low plantings.
