I planted a proven winners dwarf buddleia earlier in the spring and it did marvelously. It grew significantly and flowered beautifully. The flowers started falling off as expected and I didn't check it for a week or so and found it as pictured. The other photo is the same bush from late June.

No idea what could have happened, but hoping this is all above the ground and there is a chance it comes back.

I am in 7a and the new flower bed I planted this in is definitely wetter than I expected. It drains slowly.

And yes, I am both a new gardener and sometimes unreasonably optimistic!
I had a similar thing happen with some shasta daisies around the same time and there are already green leaves growing out of that wreckage.

If it's looked like that since June, it's a goner.

CalPolygardener said: If it's looked like that since June, it's a goner.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. The picture of the bloom is from late June — it's only looked liked it does now for about 2-3 weeks.

Looks dead.
I know it's been hot and dry over most of the country... Is this plant in sandy soil?
How dry has it been at your house?
They don't like droughts...

Suggest vitex... looks similar and handles drought very well.

Definitely sa ndy soil, but it's been very wet here. Would too much water do this?

stone said: Looks dead.
I know it's been hot and dry over most of the country... Is this plant in sandy soil?
How dry has it been at your house?
They don't like droughts...

Suggest vitex... looks similar and handles drought very well.

I disbelieve that too much water is a thing where buddlea is concerned...
Sand though...
Any chance you have nematodes up there?