Notice
During the hot summer months, all plants are shipped in full leaf and active growth. While we take
great care in packing, transit heat and confinement can cause temporary shipping shock such as minor
leaf wilt or yellowing. This is normal and recovery begins once plants are watered and acclimated
after arrival. For best results, unpack immediately upon delivery and keep plants well-watered in a
shaded area for several days before planting. We highly recommend buying 2nd day air service for all
Quart size plants and trees, so they will arrive faster during the heat of summer.
Lil' Cerise™ Butterfly Bush
Regular price
$42.99
Zone Map
Plant Factory Direct
Lil' Cerise™ Butterfly Bush
Description
Lil' Cerise™ Butterfly Bush
Butterfly Candy® Buddleia with fragrant cerise-pink blooms
Buddleja davidii 'BotEx 007' PP36348
Bring a full season of color and pollinator activity into a small garden, border, or patio container. Lil' Cerise™ is a compact butterfly bush that matures at just 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, yet produces fragrant cerise-pink flower spikes from late spring until frost. Its naturally rounded habit gives you the impact of a larger Buddleia without letting it take over the planting bed.
Best Time to Plant: Spring or Fall
Order February–June or September–November for the strongest start. Summer and winter orders may be held until it's safe to ship.
PREMIUM QUART: Budget-Friendly Starter
The quart plant is the only size currently offered.
You receive a well-rooted, nursery-grown young plant, typically 4 to 6 inches tall when shipped. It is ready to establish in your garden or container and size up during its first full growing season.
Choose your quantity and add Lil' Cerise™ to your garden.
FILL MY BOX & SAVE 15%
Save 15% on Lil' Cerise™ Butterfly Bush plants.
The discount applies automatically at checkout.
What Makes This Plant a Good Choice
- Compact without constant control: naturally stays about 2 to 3 feet tall and wide.
- Long flowering season: cerise-pink spikes bloom from late spring through frost.
- Pollinator magnet: attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.
- Flexible placement: fits containers, low borders, foundation beds, and small gardens.
- Easy-care performance: heat tolerant, deer resistant, and drought tolerant once established.
What This Plant Does for You
- Adds months of vivid pink color without overwhelming nearby plants.
- Turns a patio, walkway, or small bed into an active pollinator stop.
- Creates a tidy flowering focal point with a naturally rounded shape.
- Fills the front of a shrub border without blocking taller plants behind it.
- Delivers the look of a full-size butterfly bush in a container-friendly footprint.
Plant Highlights
- Botanical name: Buddleja davidii 'BotEx 007' PP36348
- Series: Butterfly Candy®
- Mature size: 2–3 feet tall and wide
- Bloom: Lightly fragrant cerise-pink flower spikes, late spring to frost
- Hardiness: USDA zones 5–9
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Average to fertile, well-drained soil
- Water: Regular moisture while establishing; drought tolerant once established
- Wildlife value: Attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds
- Garden uses: Containers, borders, small spaces, and pollinator gardens
Plant one as a bright accent or group several for a stronger sweep of summer color.
Premium Features & Solutions
Big Flower Power in a Small Footprint
Many traditional butterfly bushes can reach 6 to 8 feet and quickly crowd a small bed. Lil' Cerise™ was bred for compact growth, holding a dense, rounded shape around 2 to 3 feet tall and wide while still producing the colorful flower spikes gardeners want.
Color and Pollinator Activity for Months
Deep cerise-pink flowers begin in late spring and continue through summer into fall. The lightly fragrant blooms attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Removing spent flower spikes can encourage additional blooms, but deadheading is optional.
A More Considered Butterfly Bush Choice
Older butterfly bush varieties can reseed in some regions. The breeder reports that no seeds or fruit have been observed to date on Butterfly Candy® Buddleias. Regulations vary, so check your state and local rules before planting.
Choose Your Size
The premium quart is the only size currently available. This is a young starter plant rather than a finished shrub. Its well-rooted quart container is easy to plant, and the roots can move into the surrounding soil quickly when moisture and drainage are managed correctly.
Smart Growing Guide
Beginner: Simple Step-by-Step Planting
- Choose a spot receiving at least six hours of direct sun.
- Dig a hole about twice as wide as the root ball and no deeper than the container.
- Remove the plant gently and place the top of the root ball level with the surrounding soil.
- Backfill with the soil you removed, then water slowly and thoroughly.
- Keep the root zone evenly moist during establishment, but do not leave it waterlogged.
- Add mulch around the root zone while keeping it away from the stems.
Advanced: Optimize Growth and Bloom
- Prioritize sharp drainage, especially in regions with wet winters.
- Space plants about 2 to 3 feet apart based on the desired finished effect.
- For containers, use a pot at least 14 to 18 inches wide with drainage holes.
- Deadhead after major bloom flushes if you want to encourage faster rebloom.
- Cut stems back to about 12 inches in late winter or early spring before new growth accelerates.
- In zones 5 and 6, expect possible winter dieback followed by new growth from the base in spring.
Pro Tips for Maximum Impact
- Plant three together to create a fuller sweep of color along a walkway or sunny border.
- Place Lil' Cerise™ near a patio where you can enjoy the fragrance and visiting pollinators.
- Avoid consistently wet soil; butterfly bushes perform best when excess water drains away.
- Use it in front of taller shrubs to create a layered planting without blocking the view.
- Pair it with plants that share its preference for full sun and well-drained soil.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click arrow to open Answers
How large does Lil' Cerise™ Butterfly Bush get?
It matures at about 2 to 3 feet tall and wide with a dense, naturally rounded habit.
What size plant will I receive?
You will receive a well-rooted quart-size starter plant, typically 4 to 6 inches tall when shipped. The quart plant is the only size currently available.
How does the quart compare with a larger plant?
A quart is a younger starter plant, not a finished shrub. It offers a budget-friendly way to establish Lil' Cerise™ and should size up during its first full growing season when planted and cared for correctly.
When does Lil' Cerise™ bloom?
Flower spikes begin in late spring and continue through summer into fall, often lasting until frost.
Can it grow in a container?
Yes. Use a container at least 14 to 18 inches wide with drainage holes. Water when the top inch of the potting mix begins to dry.
Does it need full sun?
Yes. Plant it where it receives at least six hours of direct sunlight for the strongest growth and flowering.
Do I need to prune it?
Prune once in late winter or early spring. Cutting stems back to about 12 inches helps keep the plant dense and supports vigorous flowering growth.
Is Lil' Cerise™ deer resistant?
It is considered deer resistant, although no plant is completely deer proof when food is scarce.
Is this butterfly bush invasive?
The breeder reports that no seeds or fruit have been observed to date on Butterfly Candy® Buddleias. Because butterfly bush rules vary by location, check your state and local regulations before planting.
Can I plant it in fall?
Yes. In zones 7–9, fall offers warm soil for root establishment. In zones 5–6, plant at least six weeks before the first expected hard freeze and mulch the root zone.
How does the Fill My Box offer work?
Save 15% on Lil' Cerise™ Butterfly Bush plants. The discount applies automatically at checkout and applies only to this featured plant.
Take Action Now
Make room for months of color without giving up half the garden.
Lil' Cerise™ gives small spaces, borders, and containers the flowers and pollinator activity of a larger butterfly bush in a compact form.
Order your quart plants while they are available.
Ordering & Shipping
You receive one well-rooted, nursery-grown quart plant, typically 4 to 6 inches tall at shipping. This is a young starter plant, not a finished shrub. Depending on the season, it may arrive in bloom, in bud, dormant, or with foliage only.
Orders are packed using the same process behind our reported 0.24% shipping damage rate. We ship to most of the country in an average of 2.8 days. We do not service AK, HI, or PR.
Helpful pairing: Use the Plant Tune-Up Kit to support feeding, rooting, and even moisture after planting.
Note: The images and videos on our site are the best way to show off our products and show how good we are as growers. Depending on the season you buy, you may get a plant that is smaller or bigger than the picture shows. The plant might bloom like it does on our site, but it might not. We cut off the blooms most of the time because they don't ship well. When you buy our plants, think of them as an investment in your future garden, and enjoy the process of seeing it grow to its fullest.