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'
- 'Floral Fanfare'
- 'Floral Fanfare', 'Miss Molly'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Floral Fanfare'
Double flowered. - 'Miss Molly'
- 'Floral Fanfare'
- 'Floral Fanfare', 'Miss Molly'
- Tags:
-
-
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.
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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
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-
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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
