Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii) in the Butterfly Bushes Database

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit:	Shrub
Life cycle:	Perennial
Sun Requirements:	Full Sun to Partial Shade
Minimum cold hardiness:	Zone 5a -28.9 °C (-20 °F) to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
Maximum recommended zone:	Zone 9b
Plant Height:	6 to 10 feet (1.8-3m)
Plant Spread:	6 to 8 feet (1.8-2.4m)
Leaves:	Deciduous
Flowers:	Showy Fragrant Blooms on new wood
Flower Color:	Blue Lavender Pink Purple Red White Bi-Color
Flower Time:	Spring Late spring or early summer Summer Late summer or early fall
Suitable Locations:	Xeriscapic
Uses:	Windbreak or Hedge
Wildlife Attractant:	Bees Birds Butterflies Hummingbirds
Propagation: Seeds:	Will not come true from seed Other info: The tiny Buddleja seeds should be collected from November to February when they are normally released. The seeds require a short cold stratification period of only 4 weeks. They will germinate in 3-4 weeks if surface sown under light at 70 to 80 degrees.
Propagation: Other methods:	Cuttings: Stem Cuttings: Tip Other: They may be propagated by stem cutting or by seed. Cuttings may be taken from softwood in May, half-hardened wood in July or from mature wood in October.
Containers:	Not suitable for containers

Common names

Butterfly Bush
Orange-Eye Butterfly Bush
Summer Lilac

Botanical names

Accepted: Buddleja davidii
Synonym: Buddleja striata
Synonym: Buddleja davidii var. nanhoensis
Synonym: Buddleja shaanxiensis

Also sold as:

Buddleia
Buddlea

Photo Gallery

Location: Woodbridge , Va
Date: 2016-10-06
a newly emerged Variegated Fritillary on A Butterfly Bush bloom

Uploaded by krobra

Location: My garden in Gent, Belgium
Date: 24th July 2006
#Pollination

Uploaded by bonitin

Uploaded by bumplbea

Location: Woodbridge , Va
Date: 2018-07-24
a 3 year old self seeded plant , dug up , potted and eventually r

Uploaded by krobra

Location: IL
Date: 2016-10-28
#Pollination Ailanthus Webworm Moth (Atteva aurea)

Uploaded by molanic

Location: Ontario, Canada
Date: 2021-06-27

Uploaded by Macrocentra

Location: West Jordan, Utah, United States
Date: 2023-05-02
Just starting to come out of dormancy.

Uploaded by BlueOddish

Uploaded by bumplbea

Uploaded by tinpins

Location: Southern Pines, NC (Boyd House grounds)
Date: August 13, 2022
Butterfly Bush #86 nn; LHB page 803, 167-3-3, "After Adam Buddle,

Uploaded by WebTucker

Uploaded by sedumzz

Location: Western Kentucky
Date: 2011-06-09
A 2 year old butterfly bush, now over 6' tall

Uploaded by Sharon

Uploaded by Macrocentra

Uploaded by andreamdkell

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Long Island, NY
Date: 2013-08-19

Uploaded by Newyorkrita

Uploaded by Macrocentra

Location: Friend's Garden, Michigan
Date: 2012-08-06

Uploaded by DaylilySLP

Uploaded by purpleinopp

Location: San Antonio, TX
Date: Jun 6, 2005 2:59 PM

Uploaded by dave

Location: Dordogne, France
Date: 2009-08-17
Photo courtesy of: Père Igor Volucella zonaria sur buddleia

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by dave

Location: Gilroy, CA
Date: May
Buddleia davidii

Uploaded by imapigeon

Location: My house in Portsmouth.
Date: 2012-05-21

Uploaded by virginiarose

Uploaded by WebTucker

Uploaded by purpleinopp

Location: Western Kentucky
Date: 2011-07-09
A 10 year old white Buddleia

Uploaded by Sharon

Location: Denver, Colorado
Date: August
Bee magnet. Especially attractive to bumble bees in the morning h

Uploaded by ckatNM

Location: Riverside, CA
Date: 2015-04-24

Uploaded by JulieB

Location: Riverside, CA
Date: 2014-03-24

Uploaded by JulieB

Location: Louisa, VA
Date: 6-18-17
This Great Spangled Fritillary Butterfly was the first visitor I'

Uploaded by amyscoutmom

Location: Kinston, AL
Date: summer, 2016

Uploaded by purpleinopp

Date: 2014-11-18
Photo courtesy of: Palicari

Uploaded by admin

Date: 2007-07-15
Photo courtesy of: Fujnky

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by dave

Location: Aglais urticae
Date: 2014-11-17
Photo courtesy of: Carnage 2000

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Columbus, Ohio USA, Zone 6b
Date: 2018-07-02

Uploaded by cwhitt

Uploaded by cwhitt

Location: From my garden. Poland.
Date: 2018-07-08

Uploaded by Orsola

Uploaded by Orsola

Uploaded by Orsola

Uploaded by vic

Location: Mason, New Hampshire (zone 5b)
Date: July 2012

Uploaded by robertduval14

Location: Southern Pines, NC (Boyd House garden)
Date: May 13, 2023
Butterfly bush #56nn; LHB page 803, 167-3, "After Adam Buddle, 16

Uploaded by WebTucker

Location: Louisa, VA
Date: 6-20-17
The first Eastern Tiger Swallowtail I've seen this year. This han

Uploaded by amyscoutmom

Uploaded by WebTucker

Location: Illinois, US
Date: 2008-07-08
Seedlings from wintersowing.

Uploaded by molanic

Uploaded by DaylilySLP

Location: Baltimore, MD
Date: 2015-07-17

Uploaded by sashaapalmer

Location: Riverside, CA
Date: 2015-05-19

Uploaded by JulieB

Location: This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license
Date: 2014-08-05
Photo courtesy of: Mariofan13

Uploaded by admin

Location: Sommerflieder-Strauch, Steiermark.
Photo courtesy of: IKAl

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by dave

Location: Missouri Botanical Garden (MOBOT) - St Louis
Date: 8-9-11

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by admin

Location: Bow Bridge, a packhorse bridge over the River Brue in Bruton, Somerset, July 2006
Date: 2007-06-22
Photo courtesy of: Peter Guest

Uploaded by admin

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2013-06-21

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Southwark, London, England, United Kingdom
Date: 2023-06-11
Plants growing in cracks in the wall.

Uploaded by BlueOddish

Location: Riverside, CA
Date: 2014-05-14

Uploaded by JulieB

Location: CZ Sirem My garden
Date: 2015-05-03

Uploaded by admin

Location: My garden in Gent, Belgium
Date: 2006-07-24

Uploaded by bonitin

Location: On a waste land, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2012-07-08

Uploaded by bonitin

Location: On a waste land, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2012-07-10

Uploaded by bonitin

Location: CZ Sirem My garden
Date: 2015-07-20

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by admin

Date: 2012-04-30
Photo courtesy of: Gmihail

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by admin

Date: 2011-12-22
Photo courtesy of: Lazaregagnidze

Uploaded by admin

This plant is tagged in:

Comments:

Posted by Newyorkrita (North Shore, Long Island, NY ) on Sep 29, 2011 9:52 PM concerning plant:

Certainly well named as it not only attracts large quantities of butterflies but is also just as attractive to hummingbirds. Honeybees and Bumble bees are also very attracted to the flowers. I have to prune my butterfly bushes back strongly in early spring to keep them from growing excessively large. They bounce back from the pruning immediately with new growth.

Reply to this comment
Posted by Mindy03 (Delta KY) on May 8, 2012 6:21 PM concerning plant:

Honey bees get nectar from this plant.

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Posted by Bonehead (Planet Earth - Zone 8b) on Dec 7, 2013 7:21 PM concerning plant:

This is an escaped invasive in Washington, and is on the Class B noxious weed list. There are more and more sterile cultivars being offered, which would be a wiser choice where this plant has overstayed its welcome.

Reply to this comment
Posted by plantladylin (Sebastian, Florida - Zone 10a) on Sep 22, 2011 1:02 PM concerning plant:

Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii) is a deciduous, perennial shrub growing to 6' in height and to 15' wide, with arching branches and clusters of blooms that form a weeping habit when the bush is full. Buddleja is drought tolerant once established and prefers a full to partial sun location. Flowers come in various shades of red, pink, purple, and white and attract a wide range of butterflies to the garden.

2 replies
Posted by virginiarose (Virginia - Zone 8a) on May 21, 2012 4:48 PM concerning plant:

Many of the modern cultivars of Buddleia davidii have dramatically reduced fertility and are not invasive at all. Many hybrid cultivars (such as ‘Blue Chip') are almost completely sterile and pose no threat. Some low viability selections include, Buddleia ×weyeriana, Buddleia fallowiana, Buddleia hemsleyana, Buddleia longifolia, Buddleia macrostachya, and Buddleia nivea.

Reply to this comment
Posted by cwo2rm (Cocoa Beach, Florida - Zone 9b) on Nov 21, 2020 9:40 AM concerning plant:

Butterfly bushes are beautiful. However, I read that it is not good to have them in your garden because it encourages the endangered Monarch butterflies to hang around and not migrate as they should. Don't shoot me as I'm simply repeating what I read.

2 replies
Posted by Sharon (Calvert City, KY - Zone 7a) on Sep 29, 2011 3:48 PM concerning plant:

This plant grows so well in Kentucky, blooms through fall if deadheaded. It provides a nice backdrop since it can grow quite tall. I also have the plant in white, but it seems the blue/lavender gets more insect traffic.

Reply to this comment
Posted by Dutchlady1 on Sep 29, 2011 6:04 PM concerning plant:

In Southeast England, these often grew out of old walls!

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Plant Events from our members
dragonfetti	On March 20, 2015	Seeds sown BG container
dragonfetti	On September 30, 2014	Obtained plant Seeds from Park seed; "Miss Butterfly", a pale violet.
dragonfetti	On September 29, 2014	Obtained plant Pink from nursery in Moreno Valley.
dragonfetti	On April 25, 2013	Obtained plant White; from Victor Valley College Spring Plant sale.
WebTucker	On August 13, 2022	Bloomed
paleohunter	On December 17, 2022	Cuttings took

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Butterfly Bushes Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii)

Butterfly Bushes

Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii)