Plant DetailShow Menu

Weeping Butterfly Bush Buddleja lindleyana

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Buddleja insignis
Phonetic Spelling
bud-LAY-yah lind-lay-AH-nah
Description

Introduced into the US in the 1800s, Lindley Butterfly Bush is a large shrub or small tree with showy, long-lasting lavender flowers that attract pollinators.  This plant likes sun and prefers moist, well-drained soil, but it tolerates a range of soil conditions. Its form is rounded with arching weeping branches and a medium to fine texture.  It is more dense and compact than Buddleja davidii.

Flowers appear on new growth, so prune in late winter to early spring. It spreads easily by suckers and can be weedy.     Propagate it from semi-hardwood cuttings or from root suckers in the summer.  Once established it is quite drought tolerant but benefits from a 2"-3" layer of mulch each year.  This plant is seldom damaged by deer. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Spider mites and white flies can be occasional problems especially under drought stress.  Nematodes are problems in the coastal plains.

 

 

 

 

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Floral Fanfare'
    Double flowered.
  • 'Miss Molly'
    Reaches heights of 4-5'
'Floral Fanfare', 'Miss Molly'
Tags:
#purple#hummingbird friendly#evergreen#deciduous#small tree#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#violet#shrub#purple flowers#nectar plant#salt tolerant#fast growing#violet flowers#deer resistant#pollinator plant#suckers#flowers midsummer#poor soils tolerant#flowers late summer#humidity tolerant#butterfly friendly#nectar plant midsummer#nectar plant late summer#nectar plant early fall#flowers early fall#bee friendly#suckering shrub#suckering#weed#insect resistant#butterfly garden#hedge#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Floral Fanfare'
    Double flowered.
  • 'Miss Molly'
    Reaches heights of 4-5'
'Floral Fanfare', 'Miss Molly'
Tags:
#purple#hummingbird friendly#evergreen#deciduous#small tree#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#violet#shrub#purple flowers#nectar plant#salt tolerant#fast growing#violet flowers#deer resistant#pollinator plant#suckers#flowers midsummer#poor soils tolerant#flowers late summer#humidity tolerant#butterfly friendly#nectar plant midsummer#nectar plant late summer#nectar plant early fall#flowers early fall#bee friendly#suckering shrub#suckering#weed#insect resistant#butterfly garden#hedge#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Buddleja
    Species:
    lindleyana
    Family:
    Scrophulariaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Root Cutting
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    S. China
    Wildlife Value:
    Nectar from flowers attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.
    Play Value:
    Attracts Pollinators
    Wildlife Food Source
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    More mite resistant than B. davidii.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Semi-evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Multi-trunked
    Rounded
    Weeping
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    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
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Small ovoid two valved capsule, seeds are considered unattractive and are often pruned off.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Trumpet
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Tiny purple-violet curved tubular fragrant flowers with four lobes on 3"-12" long terminal 1 sided panicles, that arch out and down in mid to late summer. Deadhead to encourage more blooming will bloom until the first frost.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Semi-evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Oblong
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Opposite, simple, shiny, dark green, narrow leaves that are 2"-4" long and pale gray-green below. Margins are mostly entire but a few that are toothed. Glabrous above and pubescent below.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Brown
    Light Gray
    Red/Burgundy
    Surface/Attachment:
    Shredding
    Bark Description:
    On mature plants, it is shredding red to gray to brown.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gray/Silver
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    Multiple, cinnamon to gray colored stems are rough
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Patio
    Small Space
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Hedge
    Small Tree
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Humidity
    Insect Pests
    Poor Soil
    Salt
    Problems:
    Weedy