Buddleia alternifolia
(Fountain butterfly bush)

Hardy to Zone 5
Bloom Time - Mid spring (April)
Color - Lilac / Purple
Foliage - Narrow, slender, alternate leaves that are gray/green in color. Deciduous.
Size - 6-10 ft.
Exposure - Full sun
Culture - This glorious variety of butterfly bush is different from the common davidii type in both bloom time and habit and is much hardier. It blooms early, in mid-April for me, and is covered with long arching panicles of fragrant lilac flowers. The blooms occur on old wood, so pruning should be done immediately after the flowers have faded. Branches should then be cut back about one third. This shrub grows well in average, well-drained soil. They are light feeders, so fertilizing is not a necessity (if you do want to fertilize, use a low nitrogen, high phosphate fertilizer like 5-10-5 two or three times during the growing season). Buddleia alternifolia can be used as a specimen plant or in a mixed border with shrubs and perennials. It can also be trained as a standard or a small tree.

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