Butterfly bush
Buddleja davidii · Scrophulariaceae
📷 --IKAl 15:22, 23 July 2007 (UTC) · CC BY-SA 2.5
The gardener's calendar
Butterfly bush is in full bloom: enjoy it, watch watering in hot weather and let spent flowers feed pollinators before pruning.
ID card
- Common name
- Butterfly bush
- Family
- Scrophulariaceae
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- July to October
- Adult size
- Up to 3 m in height
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Down to -15 °C
- Origin
- Central China
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
The butterfly bush flowers longer the more you deadhead spent blooms. Prune hard in February for a bushy shape.
The common mistake
Over-fertilizing: it becomes leggy, flops over, and flowers less.
The pro's trick
Remove seed pods in September: this extends flowering by 3-4 weeks.
Care
Sunlight
The Butterfly bush thrives in full sun, with at least 6 hours per day, for generous and lasting blooms. Insufficient light slows growth and reduces flower production. Ideally, position it in a well-ventilated spot where it benefits from maximum brightness.
Watering
Water regularly during growth and flowering, keeping the soil moist but well-drained. Reduce watering in winter when the plant is dormant. Avoid waterlogging, which causes root rot.
Soil and planting
The Butterfly bush adapts to most soils but prefers well-drained, slightly fertile ground. Overly compact soil can affect rooting; enrich it with compost when planting. It tolerates some dryness once established.
Pruning and maintenance
Prune in late winter or early spring to maintain a compact shape and encourage branching. Remove dead or misplaced branches. Light pruning after flowering encourages a second flush of blooms in autumn.
Fertilizing
Apply balanced fertilizer in spring at the start of growth. During flowering, a biweekly feed rich in potassium supports flower production. No fertilizer needed in winter.
Pests and diseases
The Butterfly bush is generally robust. Watch for aphid or spider mite attacks in hot, dry weather. Dense, humid foliage can encourage powdery mildew; ensure good air circulation around the plant.
Did you know?
This shrub gets its common name from its remarkable ability to attract butterflies and other pollinators, thanks to its long, fragrant flower spikes. Originally from China, it was discovered by French botanist Armand David in the 19th century. Its success in European gardens has made it an invasive species in some regions, where it naturalizes with vigor.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Texas barometer bushLeucophyllum frutescens
- Buddleja virgataBuddleja virgata
- Butterfly bushBuddleja alternifolia
- Buddleja weyerianaBuddleja weyeriana
- Bride's SaddleDiascia rigescens
- Buddleja fallowianaBuddleja fallowiana
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.