Butterfly bush

Drenching the air with a fruity scent, butterfly bush's flower spikes are an irresistible lure to butterflies and hummingbirds all summer long. The plants have an arching habit that's appealing especially as a background in informal flower borders. In warmer climates, butterfly bushes soon grow into trees and develop rugged trunks that peel.

To nurture butterfly bush through cold Northern winters, spread mulch up to 6 inches deep around the trunk. Plants will die down, but resprout in late spring. Prune to the ground to encourage new growth and a more fountain-like shape. Avoid fertilizing butterfly bush; extra-fertile soil fosters leafy growth rather than flower spikes. Remove spent flower spikes to encourage new shoots and flower buds.

Note: Butterfly bush can be an invasive pest in some areas; check local restrictions before planting it.

Light:

Sun

Zones:

5-10

Plant Type:

Shrub

Plant Height:

5-15 feet tall

Plant Width:

To 8 feet wide

Flower Color:

White, Pink/Rose, Blue/Violet/Lavender, Red, Yellow/Gold, Gray/Silver Leaves, Variegated Leaves

Bloom Time:

Summer

Landscape Uses:

Beds & Borders, Slopes

Special Features:

Flowers, Attractive Foliage, Fragrant, Cut Flowers, Attracts Birds, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Butterflies, Drought Tolerant, Deer Resistant, Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

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Adonis Blue butterfly bush

(Buddleja davidii 'Adonis Blue') is a dwarf selection with big clusters of dark purple blooms all summer long. It grows 5 feet tall and wide. Zones 5 to 9
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Black Knight butterfly bush

(Buddleia davidii 'Black Knight') bears flowers of the deepest purple-black all season. It grows 10 feet tall and 15 feet wide. Zones 6-9
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Guinevere butterfly bush

(Buddleja davidii 'Guinevere') bears fragrant purple flower spikes on a shrub that grows 10 feet tall and wide. Zones 5-9
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Lo 'n Behold butterfly bush

(Buddleja 'Blue Chip') is a newer selection that bears tons of lavender-purple flowers all summer on a compact plant that grows 2 feet tall and wide. Zones 5-9
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Nanho White butterfly bush

(Buddleja davidii 'Nanho White') is a prolifically flowering variety with sweetly scented white blooms. It grows 5 feet tall and wide. Zones 6-9
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White Profusion butterfly bush

(Buddleja davidii 'White Profusion') is a standout for its extra-large, 16 inch-long flower spikes. It grows 10 feet high and 15 feet wide. Zones 6-9
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