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Buddleja davidii

Phonetic Spelling
bud-LAY-yah dah-VID-ee-eye
This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
Description

Butterfly bush is a rapidly growing, deciduous, drought-tolerant shrub native to Asia.  Plant it in the full sun in well-drained soil.   It is easy to transplant and flowers on new growth which appear from summer through the first frost.  The best flowers appear when plant is severely pruned in late winter.  

Please choose a native shrub. A few are listed to the left.

Quick ID Hints:

  • opposite, simple leaves
  • tomentose underside on leaves
  • cane-like growth
  • inflorescence terminal, panicles. 

Insect, Disease, and Other Plant Problems:  Spider mites can become a problem during drought.  In other parts of the country like the Pacific Northwest this plant is highly weedy and other options should be investigated. It is listed as invasive by the NC Invasive Plant Council.

See this plant in the following landscapes:
Butterfly Garden at Rob Wallace Park Flower Bonanza Garden Davidson County Extension Demonstration Garden Rock & Water Garden Cottage Style Foundation Planting Entryway Garden, Cabarrus County Extension Office
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Attraction', 'Evil Ways', 'Harlequin', 'Nanho Purple', 'Royal Red'
Tags:
#arching#showy flowers#deciduous#invasive#fragrant flowers#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#white flowers#easy to grow#pink flowers#deciduous shrub#salt tolerant#rabbit resistant#mass planting#high maintenance#fast growing#aggressive#well-drained soil#easy to transplant#gold flowers#deer resistant#children's garden#playground plant#long bloom time#border planting#self-seeding#pollinator plant#fantz#butterfly friendly#wet soils intolerant#perennial#weed#th-sight
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Attraction', 'Evil Ways', 'Harlequin', 'Nanho Purple', 'Royal Red'
Tags:
#arching#showy flowers#deciduous#invasive#fragrant flowers#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#white flowers#easy to grow#pink flowers#deciduous shrub#salt tolerant#rabbit resistant#mass planting#high maintenance#fast growing#aggressive#well-drained soil#easy to transplant#gold flowers#deer resistant#children's garden#playground plant#long bloom time#border planting#self-seeding#pollinator plant#fantz#butterfly friendly#wet soils intolerant#perennial#weed#th-sight
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Buddleja
    Species:
    davidi
    Family:
    Scrophulariaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Tibet to S. Central China
    Wildlife Value:
    Butterflies, hummingbirds, pollinators are attracted to this rich nectar source. Blossoms have a honey-like fragrance.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Colorful
    Fragrance
    Wildlife Food Source
    Dimensions:
    Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Multi-stemmed
    Open
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Two-valved, septicidal, 1/4-1/3" long capsule
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Panicle
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Good Cut
    Long Bloom Season
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    fused petals
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Small, growing on 4-10" panicles. Best flowers appear when plant is severely pruned in late winter. Terminal panicle of cymes. Perfect, usually lilac, orange at the mouth, fragrant; stamens enclosed in corolla.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    White
    Leaf Feel:
    Rough
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Long-lasting
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Insignificant
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    opposite, simple, ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, 4-10" long, wide acuminate, dark green above and glabrous, white soft hairs on the lower leaf surface, the petiole is very short.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Pollinators
    Predatory Insects
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Heat
    Humidity
    Salt
    Problems:
    Invasive Species
    Weedy