Flutterby Petite® Blue Heaven Butterfly Bush

Flutterby Petite® Blue Heaven is the trade name associated with the patented hybrid ‘Podaras #8’. It forms a compact, mounded and spreading shrub with violet-blue flower clusters and fuzzy silver-green foliage. Monrovia lists a typical size of 24–30 inches tall and wide and USDA zones 5–10; the UC Davis irrigation trials recorded larger plants, with a two-year average of 3.75 by 4.7 feet and some plants reaching 5 feet. [Monrovia](https://www.monrovia.com/flutterby-petite-blue-heaven-nectar-bush.html) · [UC Davis trials](https://uclpit.ucdavis.edu/buddleia_podaras8) ## Flowers and Foliage Monrovia describes fragrant bloom from summer until frost, while the UC Davis trial recorded flowering from June into November during its 2009–2011 evaluation. The [patent](https://patents.google.com/patent/USPP22069P2/en) names violet-blue flowers and an upright, outwardly spreading habit. Its breeding description sought compact sterile plants, but trial and garden performance vary with climate and culture. ## Garden Use Use Blue Heaven in sunny borders, containers, or mass plantings. Monrovia describes the cultivar as waterwise and as attracting butterflies, hummingbirds, and pollinators. The UC Davis trial recommended irrigation at the high end of its moderate range once established; its results reflect Davis, California, trial conditions rather than a universal water prescription. ## Siting Plant in full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Monrovia lists USDA zones 5–10 and recommends regular deep watering during the first growing season, with reduced frequency after establishment. Published sizes differ, so allow space for a potentially broader plant than the retail 24–30 inch label suggests. ## Maintenance Clip spent flowers to encourage continued bloom. Monrovia notes that plants may die back to the ground in colder zones and regrow from roots; elsewhere, prune in late fall or early spring. Water deeply during establishment, then adjust to soil, rainfall, and local heat.