Buddleja davidii

Growing a Butterfly Bush in your landscape

Black and orange Butterflies collecting nectar from the purple flower clusters of a butterfly bush

Buddleja davidii also called Butterfly bush, Buddleia, or Summer Lilac is a fast growing deciduous shrub with long showy flowers that bloom all summer long.

For best flowers these plants should be grown in full sun but can tolerate part shade.


Butterfly Bush Pruning

In colder climates they may die back to the ground during winter but will grow again in the spring. If they don't die back they should be trimmed to just above the ground which will make a much better looking plant.

The flowers bloom on new wood so trimming anytime of the year won't remove any blooms for next year.

Varieties of Buddleja davidii 

Try planting 2 or 3 varieties together for a multi-coloured shrub. 

They don't over winter very well in containers but putting one in a container on your deck or patio for the summer will bring butterflies close up. Just remember to plant it into the ground before winter.


Royal Red Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii 'Royal Red')

A brown and orange butterfly sitting atop a purple flower cluster of a butterfly bush.

They have deep purple flower clusters about 6 inches long. When kept pruned this makes a nice rounded shrub.

Quickly growing to about 8 feet tall and 6 feet wide, it will be loaded with flowers that attract butterflies, bees and other pollinators.


Black Knight Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii 'Black Knight') 

Lots of purple spike flowers on this butterfly bush

Blooming from early summer until fall and removing spent flowers to encourage more blooms will bring lots of pollinators to your yard.

Quickly growing to 6-8 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide, it will attract lots of pollinators to your garden.



White Profusion Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii 'White Profusion')

6 inch long spikes of white flowers sticking above the branches of this Butterfly Bush

Add a big splash of white to your landscape with the 6 inch long spikes of white flowers that cover the ends of the branches.

Quickly growing to 5 feet tall and wide, it will be a showy attraction in your garden.


Pink Delight Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii 'Pink Delight') 

Long tiny clusters of pink flowers with orange and black monarch butterfly sitting on them

Attract butterflies to your garden with the masses of pink blooms this plant produces from early summer to mid fall.

Adding a splash of pink in front of some dark evergreen trees will really make a statement. It grows to about 6 feet tall and wide.


Petite Plum® Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii nanhoensis 'Monum')

Petite Plum Butterfly Bush

Quickly growing to 5 feet tall and wide it will add a nice splash of plum purple to your landscape. 

Plant along fences to break it up or against a white lattice to really showcase your Butterfly bushes.


Dartmoor (Buddleia davidii 'Dartmoor')

Light purple panicle flowers in an arching form with green leaves.

A unique variety with giant clusters of fragrant purple flowers in summer.

Can grow up to 10' tall.


Bicolor (B. x weyeriana 'Bicolor')

Panicles Bicoloured blooms of lavender, pink and yellow growing from the tips of the branches

Photo courtesy of Brit Garden

NEW for 2020

Growing to about 5' tall and wide, these unique plants start out with lavender buds, turning pink when they open and then yellow as they mature.

Attracting butterfly is easy when you have one of these beauties in your garden.


Ever seen a Hummingbird Moth? Well this little guy came to visit my Butterfly Bushes and I was able to record it.



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