Container Magic: How to Style Butterfly Candy for Maximum Impact

Looking to brighten up your patio, balcony, or small-space garden? The five dazzling varieties of Butterfly Candy® Butterfly Bush are a dream come true for container gardening. Unlike traditional butterfly bushes that can grow leggy and oversized, these naturally compact varieties stay a neat 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, perfectly proportioned for pots. Even better, they bloom generously from late spring through fall, offering a non-stop dazzling display season after season. Once established, Butterfly Candy is low water and low maintenance, making for one pretty porch planter you won’t have to sweat over this summer! 

When it comes to wow-worthy container combinations, Steph Green of Contained Creations knows a thing or two about making a statement. From stately porch planters to sweet window boxes that soften a home’s exterior, Steph is out to prove that you don’t have to have a huge landscape to deliver a big statement– all you need are some pretty pots and the perfect plants!

This spring, Steph let Butterfly Candy Li’l Lavender™ take center stage in a charming container combination that she dubbed her “Modern Meadow” design. Anchored by Li’l Lavender, Steph played off the variety’s soft purple blooms and cool-toned foliage to create a fresh, airy spring display. Her design doubles as a handy how-to on a few key container design principles that can help your own plantings look just as polished and intentional:

Color:

Echoing color is a great way to make containers look cohesive and visually pleasing. Steph used Brachyscome to mirror the soft lavender tones of Li'l Lavender, reinforcing the color story. To add dimension and a touch of drama, she introduced hot pink dahlias, which pop against the cooler tones, as well as a plum-hued heuchera to bring depth to the arrangement.

Texture:

Great container design is about more than just color: texture adds variety, visual interest, and movement. Steph combined the soft foliage and compound flowers of Li'l Lavender with the fine, almost “fluffy” texture of euphorbia to add to the arrangement’s sense of airiness.  The euphorbia’s delicate stems and tiny blooms complement Butterfly Candy’s more substantial structure, adding lightness to the arrangement without making it feel busy.

Form:

Every good container needs a thoughtful mix of plant shapes: thrillers, fillers, and spillers. Li'l Lavender serves as the upright “thriller” in the center, while mounding companions round out the container. This classic structure ensures balance and gives the container a full, lush look from every angle.

Plant Key:

Steph’s "Modern Meadow" container shows just how versatile and stunning Butterfly Candy bushes can be in pots. Whether you're working with a petite porch or a bountiful balcony, it’s proof that with the right plants and a little creative planning, containers can still deliver big seasonal impact.