Hi there — It sounds like you’ve really done your best to protect them from the cold, get them watered, and plant them carefully with healthy soil prep. The good news is that if the root balls looked very healthy, there’s definitely still hope. Butterfly bushes can look droopy or stressed after shipping and transplanting, especially with a couple of cold days right after arrival. They may drop some leaves or look sad for a bit while they focus on settling their roots in. Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy, and give them a little time to recover. Once the weather warms and they settle in, they may begin pushing out fresh leaves from the stems or base.
We completely understand how excited you’ve been after waiting since last fall, and we want this to be a success for you too. Please keep monitoring them, and if they continue to decline, reach out to our customer care team with current photos so we can provide more tips!