Butterfly Bush, Summer Lilac, Butterflybush
Buddleia davidii

Family: Buddleiaceae

What it is like

Bloom Color: Lavender, Pink, Purple, Red, White, Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Early spring, Late summer, Late spring, Mid summer, Mid spring. Form: Rounded. May also be spelt Buddleja.

Buddleia davidii is a deciduous Shrub growing to 3 m (9ft) by 3 m (9ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in flower from July to October, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Bees, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies). It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure. It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.

Height (m): 3

Where it is found

Found in rocky riverside habitats 1300 - 2600 metres in China. Waste places, often on brick walls in Britain.

E. Asia - China. Naturalized in Britain.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Countries/locations it is found in

ASIA, AFRICA, NORTH AMERICA, CENTRAL AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN, SOUTH AMERICA, EUROPE, OCEANIA.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 1

Black or green dyes can be obtained from the flowers, leaves and stems combined. An orange-gold to brown dye can be obtained from the flowers. An extremely popular garden plant due to its low maintenance, long flowering season, colourful and fragrant flowers, and its attractiveness to butterflies. The flowering B. davidii has been closely linked with butterflies, moths and hummingbirds.

Dye: Plants that provide dyes.

Attracts Wildlife: Plants noted for attracting wildlife

Scented Plants: Plants noted for their scent

How it is grown

Landscape Uses:Border, Container, Pest tolerant, Massing, Standard, Specimen. Requires a sunny position. Prefers a rich loamy well-drained soil. Very tolerant of alkaline soils, atmospheric pollution and maritime exposure. Grows best on dry soils of low fertility, where it can seed itself freely. Plants are hardy to about -15°c, they resprout from the base if cut back by cold weather. A very ornamental plant, it hybridizes freely with other members of this genus. Polymorphic, there are many named varieties, developed for their ornamental value. The flowers emit a musk-like fragrance like heather honey. Plants flower mainly on the current years growth so a hard pruning in spring will encourage better flowering. An excellent plant for bees and butterflies. Special Features:Attracts birds, Not North American native, Naturalizing, Attracts butterflies, Suitable for cut flowers, Attractive flowers or blooms.

Propagating it: Seed - cold stratify for 4 weeks at 4°c and surface sow the seed in February/March in a greenhouse. Germination usually takes place within 3 - 4 weeks at 21°c. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter, planting them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Seedlings are inclined to damp off and so should be watered with care and kept well-ventilated. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Use short side-shoots. Very high percentage. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 15 - 20cm long, October/November in a frame.

Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; East Wall. In. South Wall. In. West Wall. In.

Habit: Shrub

Hardiness: 4-8

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

It is already considered problematic (i.e. out-competing native, agricultural, and forestry species) in northwestern and northeastern USA and Canada, throughout New Zealand, and in central Europe.

Its other names

Local names

Orange-eye butterfly bush; Buddleja; summer lilac. French: buddleia de David. Austria: Schmetterlingsstrauch; Sommerflieder. Germany: Schmetterlingsstrauch; Sommerflieder; Spitzaehriger Schmetterlingsstrauch. Italy: albero delle farfalle. Japan: chichibu-fujiutsugi; fusa-fujiutsugi. Switzerland: Schmetterlingsstrauch; Sommerflieder.

Synonyms

B. variabilis. Buddleja davidii.