Buzz™ Sky Blue Butterfly Bush

Buddleia davidii 'TOBUDSKYBL'

Nature Hills Nursery

Naturally Dwarf Buzz™ Cultivar with Cool Lavender-Blue Blooms and Silvery Foliage
Thrives in Zones 5-9
Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Heat Tolerant
Sweetly Fragrant Flowers
Top Pick for Foundation Planting in Cottage Gardens

$74⁰⁹

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Plant Size

#3 Container

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: Provide at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun daily to ensure maximum flower production. While it survives in partial shade, the stems will stretch and the signature sky blue color will appear washed out.
Soil: This shrub requires "goldilocks" soil that stays moist but never soggy. If you have heavy clay, plant it in a raised mound or add compost to improve drainage, as "wet feet" is the quickest way to kill a Butterfly Bush.

Watering Requirements

During the first growing season, provide 1 inch of water per week to help the roots dive deep into the soil. Once established, the Buzz™ Sky Blue is remarkably drought tolerant, though consistent moisture ensures the largest, most nectar-filled flower spikes. Inconsistent watering during heat waves can cause the foliage to wilt and may lead to a shorter blooming window.

Pruning Tips

Since this variety blooms on new wood, you should prune it back hard to about 12 inches above the ground in early spring just as new growth begins to emerge. Think of this like a seasonal "reset" that encourages a flush of vigorous new stems which will carry the summer flowers. Deadheading, or removing spent flower spikes throughout the summer, will trick the plant into producing even more blooms instead of putting energy into seed production.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as the first leaves appear to fuel the rapid growth of summer. Avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer or fall, because this stimulates soft, tender growth that can be easily damaged by the first frost. A single application of an organic bloom booster in mid-summer can provide the extra energy needed for a strong finish to the season.

Delivery and Shipping

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Plant specifications
Plant Characteristics	Cold hardy, Compact/Dwarf, Flowering, Fragrant, Deer-resistant, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts pollinators, Drought resistant, Heat Tolerant, Container Friendly
Hardiness Zone	5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Sunlight	Full sun
Height	3-4 ft
Width	3-4 ft
Watering Needs	Moderate
Preferred Soil	Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Peaty, Sandy
Growth Rate	Moderate
Growth Habit	Bushy, Spreading
Blooms In	Fall, Summer
Flower Color	Blue, Purple
Foliage Color	Green
Fragrant	Yes
Suitable Space	Outdoors
Botanical Name	Buddleia davidii 'TOBUDSKYBL'
Species	davidii
Cultivar	TOBUDSKYBL
Class	Magnoliopsida
Does Not Ship To	AK, HI, ID, MT, OR, PR, WA

Add a plant you can feel great about this season! For deliciously cool-toned lavender-blue blooms and silvery, gray-green foliage, the naturally dwarf Buzz™ Sky Blue Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii 'TOBUDSKYBL') can't be beat.

Stunning, 6-inch spikes of clustered blossoms arch up and above the graceful, elliptical foliage. You won't be the only one who is impressed by these showy blooms! The Buzz™ Sky Blue Butterfly Bushes are compact, woody perennials that have an incredible allure to pollinators. They are nectar powerhouses and attract butterflies, Hummingbirds, and honeybees.

With blooms that last from summer through fall, planting these will provide a critical nectar resource for Monarch butterflies as they prepare for their annual migration. You can add them into a fully integrated Butterfly Garden complete with Host Plants for caterpillars.

This improved cultivar won't get lanky, leggy, or self-seed. It simply performs beautifully for you, year after year. The flowers smell terrific, too.

With a mounded form, the compact Buzz™ Sky Blue is easy to grow and quite hardy throughout USDA planting zones 5 to 9. The play of the mounded form and the dramatic blue flower spikes bring excitement to your garden design. Enjoy watching the play of butterflies feasting from the laden blooms!

Planting and Application:

Buzz™ Sky Blue is a joy in almost any sunny location. They stay small enough to use as a facer for taller shrubs and hedges and make a dynamic border plant! Growing 3-4 feet in height and width, the airy branching won't block your view. Deer don't prefer the taste, so they are rarely damaged. a great choice as an addition to your garden border.

Enliven established evergreen trees with these beautiful, hard-working plants. Create a raised bed on the sunny side of your tree and use multiple plants in a loose, zigzagging planting pattern. You'll be thrilled with the added color and charm. Greet guests by planting several along your walkway. Use at the corners of your veggie patch to draw flying visitors late in the growing season, as well.

Or, you can start small by using them in containers on either side of your garden gate. However you use them, your local pollinators will appreciate it. With an arching, mounded growth habit, they fill a container perfectly. Add these dwarf Butterfly Bushes as a "Thriller" to decorative planters on either side of your front door.

The sky-blue panicles make perfect cuttings to bring a burst of color to flower arrangements. And it produces so many clusters, that your garden won't miss out on the bright color these clusters provide! Use them by themselves, or mix them with other colors in the Buzz™ series. You'll love the lively depth of color!

Cottage borders become lively and Butterflies are must-haves for the Pollinator garden. Plant these airy shrubs in the Rock Garden as easily as the pampered Rose Garden for plenty of flowering filler to go with your Rose bouquets.

Fabulous, Cool-Toned Fragrant Flowers
Long-Lasting Color Display
Aromatic Silvery Gray-Green Foliage
Full-Sized Blooms on a Compact Dwarf Plant
Feeds Local Butterflies, Hummingbirds & Helpful For Pollinators
Improved Cultivar Behaves Beautifully in the Landscape
Edge Your Garden Beds & Perfect for Containers

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Plant easy-care Butterfly Bushes in full sun, where it will receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. More flowers? You bet that's worth it. In addition to full sun, provide a medium amount of water on a regular basis, so it can grow to its fullest potential. Don't worry about the occasional vacation. These durable plants are waterwise. Buddleias do best in well-drained soil with moderate enrichment, but they won't tolerate wet roots. Use containers or elevate the planting bed, if your soil drains poorly. Provide a 3-4 inch layer of mulch and Nature Hills Root Booster for lifelong support.

You'll enjoy the largest flower display if you can deadhead the spent blooms. We like to invest in a cute pair of small garden snips and call it "me time" out in your garden. It takes about 3 minutes and gives you a chance to enjoy your plant up close and personal. Buddleia can act as herbaceous Perennials in cooler climates but are woody shrubs in warmer winter-growing zones. Prune back in the early spring before new growth emerges, even pruning down near the ground if your shrub dies back in the winter.

Easy-Care Full Sun Shrubs/Perennial Plants
Well-Drained Soil - But Tolerates Xeric Conditions
Regular Moderate Moisture
Prune In Early Spring
Rarely Damaged by Deer & Urban Environment Tolerant

Buddleia as a species may grow a bit too well in certain areas. Don't fear! We protect your local ecosystem with a software tool called Plant Sentry™. It helps Nature Hills follow all local, state and federal regulations for plants that can become invasive.

If we can ship this into your area, you'll adore your new Buzz™ Sky Blue Butterfly Bush. So will all your local pollinators! Get your color fix with the Buzz™ Sky Blue Butterfly Bush! This is a must-have for your home to bring color, life, form, and fragrance together uniquely and vibrantly! Order at Nature Hills Nursery today!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will Buzz™ Sky Blue Butterfly Bush survive in zone 5a, like Minneapolis?

Yes, Buzz™ Sky Blue Butterfly Bush is hardy in USDA zones 5-9, so it will survive Minneapolis winters in zone 5a. This compact cultivar grows 3-4 feet tall and wide, blooming from summer through fall. Plant in full sun for best performance.

Does Buzz™ Sky Blue Butterfly Bush need well-drained soil, and what if my soil is wet?

Buzz™ Sky Blue Butterfly Bush thrives in well-drained soil and won't tolerate consistently wet conditions. Poor drainage can lead to root rot in this hardy zones 5-9 shrub. If your soil stays wet, plant in a raised bed or improve drainage with compost. Shop at Nature Hills for this compact 3-4 foot beauty.

How do I prune Buzz™ Sky Blue Butterfly Bush, and when?

Prune Buzz™ Sky Blue Butterfly Bush in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Cut back stems by one-third to one-half their height to maintain the compact 3-4 foot form. Deadhead spent blooms during the growing season to encourage continuous flowering through fall.

Should I cut Buzz™ Sky Blue Butterfly Bush back to the ground each spring?

You don't need to cut Buzz™ Sky Blue to the ground since this improved cultivar won't get lanky or leggy like traditional butterfly bushes. Light pruning in late winter or early spring will maintain its naturally compact 3-4 foot form. Simply remove any dead wood and shape as needed.

Can Buzz™ Sky Blue Butterfly Bush be grown in containers or small gardens?

Buzz™ Sky Blue grows just 3-4 feet tall and wide, making it perfect for containers and small gardens in zones 5-9. Its compact, mounded form won't overwhelm tight spaces while still delivering 6-inch flower spikes from summer through fall. Shop at Nature Hills for this non-spreading cultivar.

What is the shipping process for Buzz™ Sky Blue Butterfly Bush plants?

Buzz™ Sky Blue Butterfly Bush ships as a live plant ready for zones 5-9. These compact shrubs arrive prepared to establish quickly in sunny locations. Plant in spring after last frost for best results and summer-through-fall blooms.

Buzz™ Sky Blue Butterfly Bush

Buddleia davidii 'TOBUDSKYBL'