Peacock - A New Series of Compact Butterfly Bush

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	Peacock™ ^{Buddleia davidii 'Peakeep' cpaf}
	Finally, colorful buddleia varieties that won’t crowd their neighbors! Roughly a third the size of other butterfly bush varieties, the English Butterfly Series™ plants are extra bushy and loaded with colorful flowers. PEACOCK™ butterfly bush has rich pink blooms, and is distinct in that the flowers radiate outward from the plant like almost like rockets. The flowers on PEACOCK™ are also the largest of three easily reaching 12-14 inches in length.
	Why it's Better: Butterfly bush often becomes overgrown and look ratty looking with age, especially if they're not rejuvenated by pruning each year. The English Butterfly Series of butterfly bush was developed to solve this problem. They are fuller and more compact - so they look great even if you forget to prune them in spring. Peacock is also notable because it's extra large blooms. Hardiness: USDA Zone 5 – treat like a perennial in the north Bloom Time: Mid-summer to fall Bloom Color: ADONIS BLUE™ - blue, Foliage Color: grey-green Size: 4-5 feet tall, 3-4 feet wide Exposure: Full sun Soil: Prefers well-drained, moist, fertile soils and can tolerant drought once established Pruning: Prune in late fall or early spring. In Northern states, this plant will dieback to the ground though roots are hardy. In the South, cut back if needed. To encourage reblooming, deadhead off old spent blooms Watering: Medium moisture Wildlife: Butterflies and bees Type: Deciduous – dieback in Northern states Fertilizing: Fertilize in early spring by applying a slow release fertilizer specialized for trees & shrubs. Follow the label for recommended rate of application. Uses: cut flower, perennial or shrub border, in masses or groupings. Breeder: Elizabeth Keep (East Malling, England) The compact size of these new cultivars is perfect for smaller gardens and the mixed border. They can also be used as a container plant in milder climates. Unlike older varieties, these cultivars will not overwhelm the landscape, and never develop the weedy, unkempt habit so typical of butterfly bush. Now even gardeners with limited space can attract butterflies and hummingbirds to their garden with colorful buddleia. Sources Garden Centers listed by state Back \| Up \| Next Share your experience: Rate how has this variety has performed in your garden.