Miss Molly Butterfly Bush

‘Miss Molly’ is a compact hybrid butterfly bush developed at North Carolina State University, with dark reddish-purple flowers often described as sangria or magenta red. It grows about 4–5 feet tall and wide in full sun, and its fragrant panicles can flower from late spring or early summer toward frost. ## Flowers and form Flowers appear on new growth in terminal panicles, with green to silvery-green foliage and a dense, semi-upright shape. The color can look redder in warm climates and more purple in cooler conditions. Use it in mixed or perennial borders and wildlife plantings, leaving room for its mature spread. [North Carolina State Extension](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/buddleja-miss-molly/common-name/miss-molly-buddleja/) describes the color, size and habit; [Proven Winners](https://c4.provenwinners.com/plants/buddleia/miss-molly-butterfly-bush-buddleia-x) lists its 4–5-foot mature size and fragrant summer blooms. ## Siting Choose full sun and well-drained soil with moderate moisture. In colder gardens the stems may die back; established plants can recover from the crown. The breeder patent describes this as a hybrid Buddleja selection and records its spring-to-fall flowering and mature plant measurements. [Plant patent](https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/b5/d3/e6/f6e974cbd45523/USPP23425.pdf) ## Maintenance It blooms on new wood. North Carolina State Extension recommends pruning in late winter or early spring before bud break, and Proven Winners notes that routine deadheading is not needed for continued flowering. Allow time for new growth before judging the plant after winter.