Butterfly Bush Buddleja
Other plants called Butterfly Bush:
- Phonetic Spelling
- bud-LAY-yah
- Description
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This genus consists of 140 species in the figwort family (Scrophulariaceae) and is native to Asia, Africa and South America. Genus name honors the Reverend Adam Buddle, an English botanist.
They are mostly shrubs of 16 ft and under but a few are classified as trees. There are both evergreen and deciduous species with evergreen species occurring in tropical areas. Most of these are drought and poor soils tolerant and grow in full sun. The most popular one in this country is B. davidii which has naturalized here and in other parts of the world as well.
Most produce terminal panicles or cymes of small tubular fragrant flowers that generally produce plenty of nectar and pollen.
Listed below are interspecific hybrids that have been developed and are sterile, producing nector but no pollen. Please choose one of these for your butterfly garden. Choosing native shrubs is an even better choice! See suggestions to the left.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Nematodes are an occasional pest problem.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Asian Moon'
Sterile purple flowers. 3-7 feet tall - Flutterby Flow® Series
Sterile flowers in red and purple - Flutterby Grande® Series
Sterile flowers in pink, blue purple, orange and cream - Flutterby Petite® Series
Sterile flowers on compact shrubs in various colors - Inspired Pink®
Sterile fragrant pink flowers. 2-3 feet tall
Lo & Behold® Group
- 'Miss Ruby'
Sterile pink flowers 4-5 feet tall
'Miss Violet'
- 'Orange Sceptre'
A hybrid of B. stachyoides (♀) and B. tubiflora (♂) with orange flowers. - 'White Waterfall'
A hybrid of (B. asiatica × B. crispa)(♀) and B. asiatica (♂) that produces white flowers.
Sterile flowers on compact shrubs 'Miss Molly'
Pink sterile flowers. 4-5 feet tall 'Miss Pearl'
Sterile white flowers 4-5 feet tall
Sterile purple flowers 4-5 feet tall - 'Asian Moon'
- 'Asian Moon', Flutterby Flow® Series, Flutterby Grande® Series, Flutterby Petite® Series, Inspired Pink®, Lo & Behold® Group, 'Miss Molly', 'Miss Pearl', 'Miss Ruby', 'Miss Violet', 'Orange Sceptre', 'White Waterfall'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Asian Moon'
Sterile purple flowers. 3-7 feet tall - Flutterby Flow® Series
Sterile flowers in red and purple - Flutterby Grande® Series
Sterile flowers in pink, blue purple, orange and cream - Flutterby Petite® Series
Sterile flowers on compact shrubs in various colors - Inspired Pink®
Sterile fragrant pink flowers. 2-3 feet tall
Lo & Behold® Group
- 'Miss Ruby'
Sterile pink flowers 4-5 feet tall
'Miss Violet'
- 'Orange Sceptre'
A hybrid of B. stachyoides (♀) and B. tubiflora (♂) with orange flowers. - 'White Waterfall'
A hybrid of (B. asiatica × B. crispa)(♀) and B. asiatica (♂) that produces white flowers.
Sterile flowers on compact shrubs 'Miss Molly'
Pink sterile flowers. 4-5 feet tall 'Miss Pearl'
Sterile white flowers 4-5 feet tall
Sterile purple flowers 4-5 feet tall - 'Asian Moon'
- 'Asian Moon', Flutterby Flow® Series, Flutterby Grande® Series, Flutterby Petite® Series, Inspired Pink®, Lo & Behold® Group, 'Miss Molly', 'Miss Pearl', 'Miss Ruby', 'Miss Violet', 'Orange Sceptre', 'White Waterfall'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Buddleja
- Family:
- Scrophulariaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Wildlife Value:
- Attractive to bees, butterflies, hummingbird and moths.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- 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
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- 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
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Usually a dry capsule that splits
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers vary per species and come in various colors. Most occur in terminal clusters of small tubular flowers with 4 petals and are fragrant.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves vary per species.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Green stems become woody with age
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Humidity
- Rabbits
