Plant Profile: Buddleja Lo & Behold® 'Ice Chip'

Buddleja 'Ice Chip' is a hybrid created from Buddleja 'Blue Chip' as part of Dr. Dennis Werner's plant breeding initiative at North Carolina State University.

This compact, low-growing perennial is ideal for ground cover, featuring lush, dense foliage and fragrant blooms. 'Ice Chip' is a sterile variety that blooms continuously without the need for deadheading. Its tidy, mounded shape showcases long plumes of small white flowers that emerge from the foliage throughout the summer and into the fall.

The plant thrives in average, well-drained soil under full sunlight. If not provided with adequate sun, it may become weedy and produce fewer flowers. Like all Buddleja species, it requires moderate moisture and is susceptible to root rot in overly wet conditions. When planted in clay soil, it’s advisable to enrich the soil with compost and position the plant slightly above ground level. Once established, 'Ice Chip' demonstrates drought tolerance but should be watered occasionally, especially during extreme heat or when grown in containers.

In colder climates, 'Ice Chip' may die back to the ground but will regrow from the crown in the spring. In areas where the above-ground shoots survive winter, cutting the plant back to the ground in late winter, when new leaves start to appear at the base, encourages more vigorous spring growth, improves the plant's shape, and increases flower production.

Due to its minimal seed production and infrequent suckering, this non-invasive cultivar is approved for sale in Oregon and Washington.