Plant Profile: Buddleja 'Miss Ruby'

'Miss Ruby' is a member of the butterfly bush collection created at the JC Raulston Arboretum in North Carolina, thanks to the plant breeding work of Dr. Dennis Werner from NC State University. This cultivar is a hybrid resulting from the cross between Buddleja 'White Ball' and Buddleja davidii 'Attraction'.

The 'Miss Ruby' Butterfly Bush features an upright, rounded form with many side branches. Its lush growth and compact nature make it an excellent choice for both standalone displays and mixed plant arrangements. Like other varieties of Buddleja, 'Miss Ruby' thrives in full sunlight and well-drained soil. It is reliably cold hardy but benefits from winter mulching. In colder climates, it may die back to the ground, but it will sprout anew from the crown in the spring. In areas where the above-ground growth survives winter, occasional moderate pruning may be necessary to maintain its compact shape. Notably, 'Miss Ruby' flowers on new growth.

This plant is adaptable to various soil types. When planting in clay soil, it is advisable to position 'Miss Ruby' slightly above the soil line and enrich the planting area with compost for optimal results. Its water requirements are moderate, and once established, it demonstrates drought tolerance.

'Miss Ruby' is particularly attractive to butterflies. In 2008, it was recognized by the Royal Horticultural Society in the UK as the top butterfly bush cultivar out of 97 varieties in their plant popularity poll.

Like all members of the 'Miss' series, 'Miss Ruby' is non-invasive, producing minimal seeds and rarely sending up suckers.