Summer Lilac Buddleja Buddleja fallowiana
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Buddleja fallowiana var. alba
- Phonetic Spelling
- BUD-lee-uh fal-low-ee-AH-nuh
- Description
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Chinese butterfly bush is a deciduous woody perennial shrub or tree that is native to Tibet and South-Central China. They are typically found in woodlands, on the edge of forests, or along stream banks in higher elevations. The shrub may grow up to 5 to 8 feet tall to 8 to 13 feet wide and has an arching habit, grayish-white wooly stems, velvety, grayish-green leaves, and white to pale lavender blue flowers that are arranged in a panicle. The young shoots are covered in soft silvery downy hairs. The specific epithet, fallowiana, honors George Fallow who was a a gardener at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh. This plant is a member of the figwort family (Scrophulariaceae).
This shrub prefers full sun, moist well-drained soils, and is adaptable to most soil types. This plant is drought and pollution tolerant. It requires protection in cold winters, or it may die back to the ground. It will usually grow back the following spring. Prune it back hard every spring to encourage new bushy growth. Propagate it by using softwood cuttings in the spring.
This species is very similar to B. davidii; however, this species is less hardy, the leaves are more silver in color, and there is a a denser amount of wooly hairs covering the stems, leaves, and buds. It is also slower-growing and less vigorous. Its flowers closely resemble B. davidii and are white, lilac, pale blue, or light purple with a orange center. A number of hybrids have been developed between these two species including 'Lochinch,' 'West Hill,' 'Bishop's Violet,' and 'Mayford Purple'.
The Chinese Butterfly Bush has great foliage interest with gorgeous silver leaves that contrast well with other darker green plants in the landscape. Consider this shrub for a cottage garden, as border planting, or along a wall border for protection in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 8 to 9..
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Monitor for aphids capsid bugs, caterpillars, earwigs, figwort weevils, and spider mites. This shrub may be susceptible to honey fungus, leaf spot, and viral diseases. It can be weedy.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Alba'
5a to 9b, more hardy than the species, gray felt-like leaves, white flowers with yellow throats - 'Bishop's Violet' (B.fallowiana x B. davidii)
large shrub, grayish-green leaves, violet-mauve flowers - 'Lochinch' (B. fallowiana x B. davidii)
dense shrub, up to 6 ft. tall, gray felt-like leaves, lavender-violet flowers, stems have white wooly hairs - 'Mayford Purple' (B. fallowiana x B. davidii)
grayish-green leaves, light purple flowers - 'Vashon Skies' (B. fallowinana x B. davidii)
American hybrid, large shrub, up to 8 ft. tall, bluish-purple flowers arranged in panicles - 'West Hill' (B. fallowiana x B. davidii)
large shrub, up to 9 ft. tall, large grayish-green leaves, upright panicles of pale lilac to lavender flowers
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Bishop's Violet' (B.fallowiana x B. davidii), 'Lochinch' (B. fallowiana x B. davidii), 'Mayford Purple' (B. fallowiana x B. davidii), 'Vashon Skies' (B. fallowinana x B. davidii), 'West Hill' (B. fallowiana x B. davidii)
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
5a to 9b, more hardy than the species, gray felt-like leaves, white flowers with yellow throats - 'Bishop's Violet' (B.fallowiana x B. davidii)
large shrub, grayish-green leaves, violet-mauve flowers - 'Lochinch' (B. fallowiana x B. davidii)
dense shrub, up to 6 ft. tall, gray felt-like leaves, lavender-violet flowers, stems have white wooly hairs - 'Mayford Purple' (B. fallowiana x B. davidii)
grayish-green leaves, light purple flowers - 'Vashon Skies' (B. fallowinana x B. davidii)
American hybrid, large shrub, up to 8 ft. tall, bluish-purple flowers arranged in panicles - 'West Hill' (B. fallowiana x B. davidii)
large shrub, up to 9 ft. tall, large grayish-green leaves, upright panicles of pale lilac to lavender flowers
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Bishop's Violet' (B.fallowiana x B. davidii), 'Lochinch' (B. fallowiana x B. davidii), 'Mayford Purple' (B. fallowiana x B. davidii), 'Vashon Skies' (B. fallowinana x B. davidii), 'West Hill' (B. fallowiana x B. davidii)
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Buddleja
- Species:
- fallowiana
- Family:
- Scrophulariaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tibet to China
- Distribution:
- Native: China South-Central (Sichuan and Yunnan) and Tibet
- Wildlife Value:
- Nectar from flowers attract butterflies, moths, bees, and other pollianators.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 13 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Open
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- 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:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a small ellipsoid capsule and has wooly hairs. They are often removed because they are not attractive after blooming. The seeds are oblong and winged.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long Bloom Season
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are a small, tubular, fragrant, and white to pale lavender-blue with 4 petals and an orange throat. The flowers are arranged in a panicle. Blooming may occur from May to October.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Velvety
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are opposite, ovate to narrowly elliptic, grayish-green with dense felt-like white hairs and measure 2 to 5.5 inches long and 0.75 to 2.5 inches wide. The margins are crenate to serrate. The leaf tip is acuminate, and the base is cuneate. They may be sub-sessile or have a short petiole.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- White
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The stems are smooth, cylinder-shaped, and densely covered white wooly hairs.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Patio
- Vertical Spaces
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Pollution
- Problems:
- Short-lived
- Weedy
