Butterfly Bush Buddleja americana
Other plants called Butterfly Bush:
Previously known as:
- Buddleja callicarpoides
- Buddleja dentata
- Buddleja floribunda
- Buddleja occidentalis
- Buddleja spicata
- Buddleja verbasci
- Buddleja verbascifolia
- Phonetic Spelling
- bud-LAY-yah ah-mer-i-CAN-ah
- Description
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Buddleja Americana can be found from Mexico through Central America and down the Pacific coast of South America to Northern Bolivia. It is also found in Jamaica, Cuba, and the Galapagos Islands. This woody shrub grows in a variety of habitats including oak and pine forests, rocky slopes, riparian areas, fields, roadsides, mountain savanna, and cloud forests. It grows well at low and middle altitudes in elevations from sea level to 2500m. They are not cold hardy and are quickly killed by frost.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Buddleja
- Species:
- americana
- Family:
- Scrophulariaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Flowers are used to make fabric dyes
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Native to Mexico, tropical America (Caribbean and Pacific coast)
- Distribution:
- Altitudes of 1190 - 3400 meters in the Andes, Sierra Nevada de Maria
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant attracts butterflies.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Samara
- Fruit Description:
- winged seeds
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Funnel
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The inflorescences are 2-10 inches long, with one or two orders of branches. The flowers are cymules, the short (< .1 inch) corollas yellow inside and white outside.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Velvety
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenulate
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Narrow grey-green with pale hairs
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Bark Description:
- light brown fissured bark.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Riparian
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Small Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Erosion
- Heat
- Humidity
- Problems:
- Short-lived
