Buddleja ' Miss Violet' is a hybrid of Buddleja 'Miss Molly' and Buddleja 'Blue Chip' developed by Dr. Dennis Werner of North Carolina State University. 'Miss Violet' has a compact, branching, semi-upright growth habit with dense foliage. The dark purple-violet, fragrant flowers are attractive throughout the summer and into the fall. It was developed with decreased fertility to avoid the invasiveness of many Buddleja davidii and is virtually seedless. Similar to other Buddleja , it requires full sun exposure and well-drained soil. It is adaptable to most soils; however, clay soil should be amended to avoid drainage problems. These plants do not grow well in wet, soggy, or poorly-drained soils. It is reliably cold-hardy but will die back to the ground in colder regions. In warmer climates, it can be trimmed in the spring to maintain a compact shape since it blooms on new wood. It can also be grown in containers, but it does require more frequent watering. It can be watered weekly as it is heat and drought-tolerant once established. This plant grows 4 to 5 feet tall and equally as wide at maturity. The foliage is grayish-green on the upper surface and white with short fuzzy hairs on the underside. The flowers are small, fragrant, tubular, purple, and are arranged in 7-inch-long panicles. The male flower parts are sterile, and the female portion of the flower has limited function, which causes reduced seed formation. This plant is protected by a US Plant Patent number PP28448 and is assigned to North Carolina State University. It was published on December 22, 2016. 'Miss Violet' is a wonderful addition to a cottage garden or pollinator garden, as well as a border planting. The reduced size and non-invasive quality allow it to be planted in a wide range of landscape locations. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Exhibits no serious insect or disease issues. More information on Buddleja .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheBuddleja Lo & Behold® 'Blue Chip'Buddleja Lo & Behold® 'Lilac Chip'Buddleja 'Miss Pearl'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Shrub
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Mounding; Multi-stemmed; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Oblong
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The leaves are grayish-green on the upper surface and white with fuzzy hairs on the underside. They are long, narrow, simple, and oppositely arranged.
Flower color
Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Fragrant; Good Cut; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The flowers are small, tubular, fragrant, and purple that are arranged in 7-inch-long panicles. The flowers have a rich purple color, sometimes described as 'grape jelly'. Blooms from June to September.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Limited germination of seeds
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
Pollinator-friendly to butterflies, hummingbirds, and hummingbirds.