Comparing Butterfly Bush varieties — notes from growing several

I've grown several varieties within the Butterfly Bush family and have some observations to share. multi-season interest from flowers, berries, bark, and autumn colour varies noticeably between them, more than catalogue descriptions suggest. The care fundamentals are shared — watering in dry spells in the first two seasons after planting applies across all of them.

box blight and box moth caterpillar on Buxus species affects some more than others, particularly in adverse conditions. I grow mine in a formal clipped topiary or box hedge which works well for most varieties. autumn berries and foliage colour is the clearest moment of differentiation between varieties — that's when the character of each comes through. Worth growing a few side by side if you have the space.