Summer Lilac Buddleja davidii
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Summer Lilac:
- 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:
- Walkway at the Park, Cabarrus County Flower Bonanza Garden Davidson County Demo Garden Rock & Water Garden Cottage Style Foundation Planting Entryway Garden, Cabarrus County Extension Office
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
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'Attraction'
- 'Evil Ways'
Chartreuse leaves, maroon flowers
'Harlequin'
- 'Nanho Purple'
Deep dark purple flowers - 'Royal Red'
Red flowers
Incredibly fragrant, bright reddish-purple to magenta-colored blooms
Variegated leaves, red-purple flowers - 'Evil Ways'
- 'Attraction', 'Evil Ways', 'Harlequin', 'Nanho Purple', 'Royal Red'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
-
'Attraction'
- 'Evil Ways'
Chartreuse leaves, maroon flowers
'Harlequin'
- 'Nanho Purple'
Deep dark purple flowers - 'Royal Red'
Red flowers
Incredibly fragrant, bright reddish-purple to magenta-colored blooms
Variegated leaves, red-purple flowers - 'Evil Ways'
- 'Attraction', 'Evil Ways', 'Harlequin', 'Nanho Purple', 'Royal Red'
- Tags:
-
-
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.
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-
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
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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:
- Two-valved, septicidal, 1/4-1/3" long capsule
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-
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.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Predatory Insects
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Heat
- Humidity
- Salt
- Problems:
- Invasive Species
- Weedy
