Buddleja
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Adenoplea
- Adenoplusia
- Chilianthus
- Phonetic Spelling
- bud-LAY-yah
- Description
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The genus, Buddleja, includes 111 species of shrubs and trees native to Tropical and Subtropical America, Northeast and South Africa, Madagascar, and Asia. Plants in this genus are often found along river banks, roadsides, forest margins, and other disturbed areas. The species are primarily used as ornamentals and for their ability to attract butterflies and pollinators. They have vibrant and colorful flowers in varying panicle shapes and sizes, plus there are many new cultivars available. The common name for this genus is butterfly bush, and it is a member of the figwort family (Scrophulariaceae). The genus name, Buddleja, honors the Reverend Adam Buddle, an English botanist and clergyman.
The shrubs can range in height from 5 to 10 feet tall or as tall as 16 feet, and a few are classified as trees. There are both evergreen and deciduous species, with evergreen species occurring in tropical areas. Most are drought and poor-soil-tolerant, and they prefer full sun and well-drained soil. The shrubs in this genus tend to respond well to pruning in the spring, followed by vigorous growth and larger flower production. One of the most popular species is B. davidii, which has naturalized in portions of the United States and other parts of the world.
Most of the species have similar traits. The bark is fibrous and fissured. The stems will frequently have white to gray hairs. The leaves are green to grayish-green, opposite, and rarely alternate. They are usually lanceolate or ovate-shaped with entire, crenate, or serrate margins. The flowers are terminal panicles or cymes of small tubular fragrant blooms that produce nectar and pollen. Their colors range from white, yellow, orange, and shades of purple. The fruits are 2-valved capsules containing many small, brown, winged seeds.
Many species of butterfly bush are used in cottage gardens and as border or foundation plantings. They are beautiful when blooming and a popular choice in the landscape. Consider the plant size, color, and growth habit, and avoid plants that may be weedy or aggressive.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Exhibits no serious insect or disease problems. Monitor for spider mites, figwort weevils, and caterpillars. Fungal diseases such as leaf spot, root rot, and gray mold can occur. The species, B. davidii, tends to be weedy and somewhat aggressive. Consult with your invasive plant council when considering this species.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Asian Moon'
Sterile purple flowers. 3-7 feet tall
Buddleja alternifolia (Fountain or Alternate Leaf Butterfly Bush)
- Flutterby Flow® Series
Sterile flowers in red and purple - Flutterby Grande® Series
Sterile flowers in pink, blue purple, orange and cream - Flutterby Petite® Series
Sterile flowers on compact shrubs in various colors - Inspired Pink®
Sterile fragrant pink flowers. 2-3 feet tall
Lo & Behold® Group
- 'Miss Ruby'
Sterile pink flowers 4-5 feet tall
'Miss Violet' (B. 'Miss Molly' x B. 'Blue Chip')
- 'Orange Sceptre'
A hybrid of B. stachyoides (♀) and B. tubiflora (♂) with orange flowers. - 'White Waterfall'
A hybrid of (B. asiatica × B. crispa)(♀) and B. asiatica (♂) that produces white flowers.
winter hardy, large, weeping shrub, narrow, alternate, grayish-green leaves, clusters of fragrant lilac purple flowers Buddleja americana (American Butterfly Bush)
tender shrub, up to 6 to 10 ft. tall, narrow gray green leaves, panicles of white flowers with yellow center Buddleja davidii (Orange-Eyed Butterfly Bush)
bushy habit, 5 to 12 ft. tall, dark green leaves, 4 to 10-inch panicles of lilac flowers with orange center Buddleja fallowiana (Chinese Butterfly Bush)
bushy habit, 5 to 8 ft. tall, grayish-green leaves, panicles of white to pale lavender-blue flowers Buddleja globosa (Orange or Orange Ball Butterfly Bush
erect, up to 10 to 15 ft. tall, dark green leaves, yellow-orange spherical clusters of flowers Buddleja lindleyana (Lindley Butterfly Bush)
rounded form, arching branches, 4 to 7 ft. tall, dark green leaves, slender panicles of purple violet flowers Buddleja salviifolia (Sageleaf Butterfly Bush)
semi-weeping habit, up to 12 to 26 ft. tall, dark green, wrinkled leaves, cone-shaped panicles of white to lilac blooms Buddleja x weyeriana (Weyer's Butterfly Bush)
hybrid, arching habit, 5 to 12 ft. tall, dark green leaves, panicles of yellow or creamed colored flowers
Sterile flowers on compact shrubs 'Miss Molly' (B. Miss Ruby' x B. davidii)
4-5 ft. tall, mounding, dense habit, green to silvery-green leaves, sterile magenta colored flowers 'Miss Pearl' (B. 'Miss Molly' x B. 'Ice Chip'
4 to 5 ft. tall, compact habit, medium green leaves, sterile white ruffled flowers on an upright spikes
4 to 5 ft., mounding, dense habit, grayish-green leaves, sterile purple flowers - 'Asian Moon'
- 'Asian Moon', Buddleja alternifolia (Fountain or Alternate Leaf Butterfly Bush), Buddleja americana (American Butterfly Bush), Buddleja davidii (Orange-Eyed Butterfly Bush), Buddleja fallowiana (Chinese Butterfly Bush), Buddleja globosa (Orange or Orange Ball Butterfly Bush, Buddleja lindleyana (Lindley Butterfly Bush), Buddleja salviifolia (Sageleaf Butterfly Bush), Buddleja x weyeriana (Weyer's Butterfly Bush), Flutterby Flow® Series, Flutterby Grande® Series, Flutterby Petite® Series, Inspired Pink®, Lo & Behold® Group, 'Miss Molly' (B. Miss Ruby' x B. davidii), 'Miss Pearl' (B. 'Miss Molly' x B. 'Ice Chip', 'Miss Ruby', 'Miss Violet' (B. 'Miss Molly' x B. 'Blue Chip'), 'Orange Sceptre', 'White Waterfall'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Asian Moon'
Sterile purple flowers. 3-7 feet tall
Buddleja alternifolia (Fountain or Alternate Leaf Butterfly Bush)
- Flutterby Flow® Series
Sterile flowers in red and purple - Flutterby Grande® Series
Sterile flowers in pink, blue purple, orange and cream - Flutterby Petite® Series
Sterile flowers on compact shrubs in various colors - Inspired Pink®
Sterile fragrant pink flowers. 2-3 feet tall
Lo & Behold® Group
- 'Miss Ruby'
Sterile pink flowers 4-5 feet tall
'Miss Violet' (B. 'Miss Molly' x B. 'Blue Chip')
- 'Orange Sceptre'
A hybrid of B. stachyoides (♀) and B. tubiflora (♂) with orange flowers. - 'White Waterfall'
A hybrid of (B. asiatica × B. crispa)(♀) and B. asiatica (♂) that produces white flowers.
winter hardy, large, weeping shrub, narrow, alternate, grayish-green leaves, clusters of fragrant lilac purple flowers Buddleja americana (American Butterfly Bush)
tender shrub, up to 6 to 10 ft. tall, narrow gray green leaves, panicles of white flowers with yellow center Buddleja davidii (Orange-Eyed Butterfly Bush)
bushy habit, 5 to 12 ft. tall, dark green leaves, 4 to 10-inch panicles of lilac flowers with orange center Buddleja fallowiana (Chinese Butterfly Bush)
bushy habit, 5 to 8 ft. tall, grayish-green leaves, panicles of white to pale lavender-blue flowers Buddleja globosa (Orange or Orange Ball Butterfly Bush
erect, up to 10 to 15 ft. tall, dark green leaves, yellow-orange spherical clusters of flowers Buddleja lindleyana (Lindley Butterfly Bush)
rounded form, arching branches, 4 to 7 ft. tall, dark green leaves, slender panicles of purple violet flowers Buddleja salviifolia (Sageleaf Butterfly Bush)
semi-weeping habit, up to 12 to 26 ft. tall, dark green, wrinkled leaves, cone-shaped panicles of white to lilac blooms Buddleja x weyeriana (Weyer's Butterfly Bush)
hybrid, arching habit, 5 to 12 ft. tall, dark green leaves, panicles of yellow or creamed colored flowers
Sterile flowers on compact shrubs 'Miss Molly' (B. Miss Ruby' x B. davidii)
4-5 ft. tall, mounding, dense habit, green to silvery-green leaves, sterile magenta colored flowers 'Miss Pearl' (B. 'Miss Molly' x B. 'Ice Chip'
4 to 5 ft. tall, compact habit, medium green leaves, sterile white ruffled flowers on an upright spikes
4 to 5 ft., mounding, dense habit, grayish-green leaves, sterile purple flowers - 'Asian Moon'
- 'Asian Moon', Buddleja alternifolia (Fountain or Alternate Leaf Butterfly Bush), Buddleja americana (American Butterfly Bush), Buddleja davidii (Orange-Eyed Butterfly Bush), Buddleja fallowiana (Chinese Butterfly Bush), Buddleja globosa (Orange or Orange Ball Butterfly Bush, Buddleja lindleyana (Lindley Butterfly Bush), Buddleja salviifolia (Sageleaf Butterfly Bush), Buddleja x weyeriana (Weyer's Butterfly Bush), Flutterby Flow® Series, Flutterby Grande® Series, Flutterby Petite® Series, Inspired Pink®, Lo & Behold® Group, 'Miss Molly' (B. Miss Ruby' x B. davidii), 'Miss Pearl' (B. 'Miss Molly' x B. 'Ice Chip', 'Miss Ruby', 'Miss Violet' (B. 'Miss Molly' x B. 'Blue Chip'), 'Orange Sceptre', 'White Waterfall'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Buddleja
- Family:
- Scrophulariaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tropical to Subtropical America, Northeast to South Africa, Asia
- Distribution:
- Native: Afghanistan, Angola, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Cape Provinces, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, DR Congo, East Himalaya, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Free State, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Inner Mongolia, Iran, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, KwaZulu-Natal, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaya, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Nicaragua, Northern Provinces, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Sumatera, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tibet, Uganda, Uruguay, Vietnam, West Himalaya, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and the United States--AZ, CA, NM. NV, TX, and UT. Introduced: United States--AL, CT, DC, FL, GA, HI, IL, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MS, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, WA, WV.
- Wildlife Value:
- Attractive to bees, butterflies, hummingbird and moths.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Easy to Grow
- Fragrance
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Dense
- Mounding
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a dry capsule that splits open and contains many tiny seeds
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers vary per species and come in various colors. Most occur in terminal clusters of small tubular flowers with 4 petals and are fragrant.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Velvety
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves vary per species. They may be green to silvery-green, usually opposite, simple, lanceolate to ovate, with either entire, crenate, or serrate margins. The undersides of the leaves often white, wooly hairs.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The stems may be green or silvery and covered with tiny hairs. They become woody with age
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Humidity
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Weedy
