Butterfly Bush, Nanho Blue

Nanho Blue Butterfly Bush 

Botanical name: Buddleja davidii ‘Nanho Blue’
Common name: Nanho Blue Butterfly Bush, Dwarf Butterfly Bush

General Description

‘Nanho Blue’ is a compact, deciduous shrub known for its long-lasting, fragrant flower spikes and strong attraction to pollinators—especially butterflies and hummingbirds. It is a smaller, more refined cultivar of the standard butterfly bush.

Size

Height: 4–6 ft (1.2–1.8 m)

Spread: 3–5 ft (0.9–1.5 m)

More compact than typical butterfly bushes, making it suitable for smaller gardens.

Flowers

Color: Lavender to violet-blue (described as “soft blue-purple”)

Shape: Long, narrow, cone-shaped panicles (6–10 in long)

Bloom Time: Summer through early fall; often blooms repeatedly

Fragrance: Sweetly scented, especially attractive to butterflies

Foliage

Leaves: Narrow, lance-shaped

Color: Silvery-green to gray-green

Gives the shrub a soft, airy appearance

Growth Habit

Rounded, arching growth

Fast-growing

Can develop multiple stems; pruning maintains shape

Sun & Soil Requirements

Light: Full sun (at least 6 hours daily)

Soil: Well-drained; tolerates poor or sandy soils

Drought tolerance: Good once established

Care

Prune back hard in late winter or early spring to encourage new growth and heavy flowering

Deadheading encourages continuous blooming

Avoid overwatering

Landscape Uses

Butterfly and pollinator gardens

Mixed borders

Cottage gardens

Smaller urban gardens where a full-size butterfly bush would be too large