Butterfly Bush

Butterfly Bush Information

Brief Description

The Butterfly Bush gets its name because its nectar-rich flowers attract butterflies & hummingbirds. The Hot Raspberry variety has deep Magenta flowers while the Buzz Midnight has deep purple flowers. The Butterfly Shrub grows up to 5 feet tall and 5 feet wide. The botanical name comes from a botanist named Adam Buddle who brought the plant from Asia to England. While the Butterfly Shrub is popular, in our opinion we recommend the Chaste Tree, which that information is in a separate article on our website.

Origin

Asia 

Description

Common Name – Butterfly Shrub

Botanical Name – Buddleia Davidii

Plant Type – Perennial Shrub 

Mature Size – 3 to 12 feet tall, 3 to 10 feet wide 

Sun Exposure – Full Sun 

Bloom Time – Summer & Fall

Flower Color – All of the above 

Hardiness Zone – 5 to 9 

Planting

There are numerous varieties, so check for 1) what size it will be and 2) what color(s) will the flowers be. When it comes to where to plant your Butterfly Shrub, we recommend the area has full sun. Because these shrubs grow up to 15’ tall and 15’ wide (depending on the variety), make sure the area where it’s planted has enough space. 

Care

Butterfly Shrubs don’t require much care. They perform best when a heavy winter pruning has been done in January or February (a 50% cut-back is recommended). To promote flower growth, deadhead  what you see and this will encourage new flowers. Butterfly Shrubs tend to exit dormancy late so be patient and you’ll eventually have a beautiful shrub. Then, throughout the growing season, prune back the “crazy” shoots (you’ll know em’ when you see em’). Besides that, they require an average amount of water, the same as the other shrubs in your landscape. As the shrub grows, remember to move the water emitters away from the base 3-5 feet. This will force the roots to grow out, which will help with drought tolerance and overall strength. REMINDER: don’t forget to do a heavy winter pruning!

Flowers

The flowers on the Butterfly Shrub are panicles (a loose, branching cluster of flowers) that grow up to 12″ long. 

Varieties

There are many varieties available. The ‘Cascade’ has enormous, thick flowers and comes in various purple shades. The ‘Miss’ has a red variety that’s stunning and worth checking out.  The ‘Black Knight’ is deep purple flowers that are gorgeous. 

Invasive

The Butterfly Bush originated in Asia, and since the plant was brought to the United States, it’s been found to be invasive in some areas. This means that it easily populates (due to being a high seed producer) and it overtakes native plants. Some states have either banned Butterfly Bushes or sell varieties that produce only a small amount of seeds. Before planting, make sure that you’re allowed to plant Butterfly Bushes in your state. 

 

Lastly, we highly recommend Watter’s Garden Center, Mortimer Nursery, or Prescott Valley Nursery as great places to both purchase shrubs & trees but to also ask questions because these are the experts.