Butterfly Bush

Buddleja

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 fountainlike 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.

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Light:

Sun

Type:

Shrub

Height:

From 3 to 20 feet

Width:

To 8 feet wide

Flower Color:

Blue, Pink, Red, White

Foliage Color:

Chartreuse/Gold, Gray/Silver

Seasonal Features:

Summer Bloom

Problem Solvers:

Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Slope/Erosion Control

Special Features:

Attracts Birds, Cut Flowers, Fragrance, Low Maintenance

Zones:

5-10

more varieties for Butterfly bush

'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 5-9

'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

'Guinevere' butterfly bush

Buddleja davidii 'Guinevere' bears fragrant purple flower spikes on a shrub that grows 10 feet tall and wide. Zones 5-9

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