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Butterfly bushes
Butterfly bushes
Butterfly bushes
Butterfly bushes
Butterfly bushes (Buddleja)
Butterfly bushes, as their name suggests, regularly attract butterflies wherever they are grown. They produce nectar with high sugar levels, which brings in butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. Examples were first imported from China to the UK in the 1890s but they have since been cultivated and grown globally. Their prolific flower spikes reseed easily and become semi-invasive in some areas.
Lifespan
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Plant Type
Shrub
info

Key Facts About Butterfly bushes

Attributes of Butterfly bushes

Plant Height
61 cm to 91 cm
Spread
91 cm to 1.2 m
Flower Size
2.5 cm
Leaf type
Deciduous
Ideal Temperature
20 - 38 ℃

Scientific Classification of Butterfly bushes

distribution

Distribution of Butterfly bushes

Distribution Map of Butterfly bushes

distribution map
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
habit
species

Exploring the Butterfly bushes Plants

8 most common species:
Buddleja davidii
Butterfly bush
Buddleja davidii, commonly known as butterfly bush, is a fast-growing shrub native to East Asia. This vigorous plant is usually cultivated as an ornamental, due to its extravagant purple inflorescences. It carries the name butterfly bush because its flowers are a valuable source of nutritious nectar for numerous butterfly species.
Buddleja alternifolia
Alternate-leaved butterfly-bush
Alternate-leaved butterfly-bush is a flowering plant endemic to China. It is a sought-after garden plant, particularly in the United Kingdom, due to its mildly fragrant cascade of lilac flowers that attract butterflies in particular. This is where the shrub gets its common name.
Buddleja lindleyana
Lindley's Butterflybush
Also called weeping butterfly bush, lindley's Butterflybush (Buddleja lindleyana) is a shrub that’s indigenous to China. The sweet-smelling flowers of this plant attract both butterflies and hummingbirds in droves. While many other plants will just wither away and die in locations with lots of sun and little shade, that’s not the case with lindley's Butterflybush.
Buddleja asiatica
Dog tail
Dog tail (*Buddleja asiatica*) is a useful wildflower since it is commercially used for animal fodder. In Nepal, the Thangmi people use the plant's attractive white flowers to make necklaces for weddings. This plant is a popular garden flower, and it has been grown in the UK since its introduction in 1874.
Buddleja albiflora
White flowered butterfly bush
White flowered butterfly bush (Buddleja albiflora) is occasionally grown ornamentally, despite the fact that its glamorous relatives are more popular. Its elegant felted leaves and aromatic flower pannicles still offer plenty of garden appeal. The Latin name Buddleja albiflora refers to white flowers, even though the attractive blooms of this plant are pink.
Buddleja globosa
Orange ball tree
Orange ball tree is a large shrub that can grow up to 5 m tall, with gray fissured bark. The young branches are subquadrangular and tomentose, bearing sessile or subsessile lanceolate or elliptic leaves that are 5 to 15 cm long by 2 to 6 cm wide. The upper surface of the leaves is smooth and slightly bullate, while the lower surface is covered in fine hairs.
Buddleja japonica
Butterfly Bush
Buddleja japonica grows to < 1.5 m in height in the wild open in habit and sparsely branched. The branches are tetragonous and winged. The leaves are narrowly lanceolate < 20 cm long by < 5 cm wide the upper surface dark green and glabrous the underside tawny felted. The flowers form dense drooping terminal panicles < 20 cm long usually pale lilac in colour from summer to fall.
Buddleja officinalis
Pole butterflybush
Pole butterflybush is a tender shrub that can be found in rocky habitats, forest edges, and cliffs in several Chinese provinces. The essential oils derived from this plant are often used in the perfume industry. Its flowers are very fragrant and attract Vanessa butterflies that feed on the flower nectar.

All Species of Butterfly bushes

Butterfly bush
Buddleja davidii
Butterfly bush
Buddleja davidii, commonly known as butterfly bush, is a fast-growing shrub native to East Asia. This vigorous plant is usually cultivated as an ornamental, due to its extravagant purple inflorescences. It carries the name butterfly bush because its flowers are a valuable source of nutritious nectar for numerous butterfly species.
Alternate-leaved butterfly-bush
Buddleja alternifolia
Alternate-leaved butterfly-bush
Alternate-leaved butterfly-bush is a flowering plant endemic to China. It is a sought-after garden plant, particularly in the United Kingdom, due to its mildly fragrant cascade of lilac flowers that attract butterflies in particular. This is where the shrub gets its common name.
Lindley's Butterflybush
Buddleja lindleyana
Lindley's Butterflybush
Also called weeping butterfly bush, lindley's Butterflybush (Buddleja lindleyana) is a shrub that’s indigenous to China. The sweet-smelling flowers of this plant attract both butterflies and hummingbirds in droves. While many other plants will just wither away and die in locations with lots of sun and little shade, that’s not the case with lindley's Butterflybush.
Dog tail
Buddleja asiatica
Dog tail
Dog tail (*Buddleja asiatica*) is a useful wildflower since it is commercially used for animal fodder. In Nepal, the Thangmi people use the plant's attractive white flowers to make necklaces for weddings. This plant is a popular garden flower, and it has been grown in the UK since its introduction in 1874.
White flowered butterfly bush
Buddleja albiflora
White flowered butterfly bush
White flowered butterfly bush (Buddleja albiflora) is occasionally grown ornamentally, despite the fact that its glamorous relatives are more popular. Its elegant felted leaves and aromatic flower pannicles still offer plenty of garden appeal. The Latin name Buddleja albiflora refers to white flowers, even though the attractive blooms of this plant are pink.
Orange ball tree
Buddleja globosa
Orange ball tree
Orange ball tree is a large shrub that can grow up to 5 m tall, with gray fissured bark. The young branches are subquadrangular and tomentose, bearing sessile or subsessile lanceolate or elliptic leaves that are 5 to 15 cm long by 2 to 6 cm wide. The upper surface of the leaves is smooth and slightly bullate, while the lower surface is covered in fine hairs.
Butterfly Bush
Buddleja japonica
Butterfly Bush
Buddleja japonica grows to < 1.5 m in height in the wild open in habit and sparsely branched. The branches are tetragonous and winged. The leaves are narrowly lanceolate < 20 cm long by < 5 cm wide the upper surface dark green and glabrous the underside tawny felted. The flowers form dense drooping terminal panicles < 20 cm long usually pale lilac in colour from summer to fall.
Pole butterflybush
Buddleja officinalis
Pole butterflybush
Pole butterflybush is a tender shrub that can be found in rocky habitats, forest edges, and cliffs in several Chinese provinces. The essential oils derived from this plant are often used in the perfume industry. Its flowers are very fragrant and attract Vanessa butterflies that feed on the flower nectar.
Butterfly bush 'Buzz Ivory'
Buddleja davidii 'Buzz Ivory'
Butterfly bush 'Buzz Ivory'
Butterfly bush 'Buzz Ivory' is a Butterfly bush bred specially for gardens due to its compact size and ease of growth. This butterfly and bee-attracting plant (Buzz) does indeed have an ivory-colored flower brush that blooms profusely over a long flowering period.
Butterfly bush 'White Profusion'
Buddleja davidii 'White Profusion'
Butterfly bush 'White Profusion'
The butterfly bush 'White Profusion' is a cultivar from the figwort family, named for the white flowers that bloom in abundance on this variety. This butterfly bush is favored in flower arrangements. This bush received a merit award from the Royal Horticultural Society. has the ability to attract bees and butterflies and is easy to care for. It spreads quickly and can be invasive.
Butterfly bush 'Empire Blue'
Buddleja davidii 'Empire Blue'
Butterfly bush 'Empire Blue'
The butterfly bush 'Empire Blue' is a butterfly bush cultivar from the figwort family. This perennial can reach a height of 1.5 m. It has the ability to attract bees and butterflies. Its light purple and orange flowers help distinguish it from other butterfly bushes. When proper care is given, it can live for up to twenty years making it a good investment for gardeners.
Butterfly bush 'Pink Delight'
Buddleja davidii 'Pink Delight'
Butterfly bush 'Pink Delight'
The butterfly bush 'Pink Delight' is a cultivar from the figwort family and is a species of the butterfly bush. This plant spreads quickly and some US states have declared it a weed. This particular cultivar gets its name for its delightful pink color. It is favored in flower arrangements, and when planted in the garden can attract bees and butterflies.
Sungold butterfly bush
Buddleja × weyeriana
Sungold butterfly bush
Sungold butterfly bush is a hybrid shrub distinguished by its rounded clusters of tubular flowers, which come in a palette ranging from warm yellows to soft pinks. Its elongated leaves with pointed tips crown the plant, creating a lush backdrop for the blooms. This versatile hybrid thrives in full sun to partial shade, attracting butterflies and other pollinators while being resilient to varying environmental conditions.
Butterfly bush 'Buzz Midnight'
Buddleja davidii 'Buzz Midnight'
Butterfly bush 'Buzz Midnight'
The deep purple flowers of butterfly bush 'Buzz Midnight' are certainly reminiscent of a midnight color palette. Typically the flowers of the butterfly bush are a lighter purple. This dwarf cultivar of the Butterfly bush grows to a maximum height of 1.5 m. The plant blooms from mid-summer through to fall and the flowers are very popular with butterflies.
Buddleja hybrid
Buddleja hybrid
Buddleja hybrid
Buddleja hybrid is a robust flowering shrub known for its vibrant cone-shaped clusters of flowers that range from purple to pink. These blossoms emit a honey-like fragrance, attracting butterflies and bees. Hardy and fast-growing, buddleja hybrid thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, and is drought-tolerant once established, making it a low-maintenance choice for gardeners looking to add a splash of color and support local pollinators.
Butterfly bush 'Wisteria Lane'
Buddleja davidii 'Wisteria Lane'
Butterfly bush 'Wisteria Lane'
Butterfly bush 'Wisteria Lane', as their name suggests, regularly attract butterflies wherever they are grown. They produce nectar with high sugar levels, which brings in butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. Examples were first imported from China to the UK in the 1890s but they have since been cultivated and grown globally. Their prolific flower spikes reseed easily and become semi-invasive in some areas.
Butterfly bushes 'Bicolor'
Buddleja × weyeriana 'Bicolor'
Butterfly bushes 'Bicolor'
Butterfly bushes 'Bicolor' is a striking hybrid shrub known for its multicolored flower spikes that blend orange and purple hues. Blossoming from summer to autumn, it attracts pollinators with its nectar-rich blooms. This bushy plant thrives in well-drained soil and full sun, reaching up to 6 feet in height. Hardy and eye-catching, butterfly bushes 'Bicolor' adds vibrant color to temperate gardens.
Butterfly bush 'Royal Red'
Buddleja davidii 'Royal Red'
Butterfly bush 'Royal Red'
The butterfly bush 'Royal Red' is a cultivar from the figwort family; this version of the butterfly bush bears bright magenta/purple flowers, inspiring its name. The foliage is a sage green color, with a shade of white on the underside. This award-winning bush (Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain Award of Garden Merit) has the ability to attract bees and butterflies and is easy to care for.
Butterfly bush 'Black Knight'
Buddleja davidii 'Black Knight'
Butterfly bush 'Black Knight'
The butterfly bush 'Black Knight' is a distinctive cultivar of the butterfly bush, from the figwort family. is an award-winning bush (merit award from the Royal Historical Society). It has also been referred to as a Summer Lilac 'Black Knight'. This latter name may be where it got its name as its blooms resemble that of a lilac bush and are a purple color. It is favored in flower arrangements. It has the ability to attract bees and butterflies and is easy to care for.
Butterfly bush 'Dartmoor'
Buddleja davidii 'Dartmoor'
Butterfly bush 'Dartmoor'
'Dartmoor' is instantly recognizable by its unique magenta inflorescences comprising compound, branched panicles, 20–30 cm long, instead of the typical single, terminal spike. The shrub can grow up to 5 m in height, the green foliage unremarkable and all but identical to the type. The weight of the large inflorescences causes the ends of the branches to droop, bestowing a distinctive, arching structure.
Woolly butterflybush
Buddleja marrubiifolia
Woolly butterflybush
B. marrubiifolia is a dioecious multi-branched shrub that is 50 to 200 cm high with greyish to blackish rimose bark. The young branches are terete and tomentose, bearing ovate to rhomboid leaves. The inflorescence is a terminal globose head
Buddleja glomerata
Buddleja glomerata
Buddleja glomerata
Buddleja glomerata is an eye-catching shrub, renowned for its dense clusters of honey-scented, yellow-orange flowers that bloom prolifically. It thrives in sunny, open areas, often attracting butterflies and bees to its nectar-rich blossoms. This hardy plant is resilient to drought once established, featuring narrow, grey-green leaves that contribute to its unique charm throughout the year.
Butterfly bush 'Sungold'
Buddleja × weyriana 'Sungold'
Butterfly bush 'Sungold'
Butterfly bush 'Sungold' stands out amongst other butterfly bushes thanks to the color palette of its flowers and its unique fragrance. 'Sungold' in this cultivar's common name, butterfly bush 'Sungold', derives from the bright-gold color that can be seen on its blooms. This plant is a real magnet for all sorts of pollinators.
Smokebush
Buddleja madagascariensis
Smokebush
Smokebush boasts narrow, lance-shaped leaves that create a backdrop for striking, tubular orange-yellow flowers. This robust shrub, reaching heights of up to 4 meters, thrives in well-drained soil, basking in the full glory of the sun. Its distinctive honey scent lures myriad pollinators, playing a crucial role in its lush, evergreen existence.
popular genus

More Popular Genus

Dracaena
Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Ficus
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Rubus
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Acer
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Solanum
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Rosa
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Quercus
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
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About
Key Facts
Distribution
All Species
More Genus
Butterfly bushes
Butterfly bushes
Butterfly bushes
Butterfly bushes
Butterfly bushes
Butterfly bushes
Butterfly bushes
Buddleja
Butterfly bushes, as their name suggests, regularly attract butterflies wherever they are grown. They produce nectar with high sugar levels, which brings in butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. Examples were first imported from China to the UK in the 1890s but they have since been cultivated and grown globally. Their prolific flower spikes reseed easily and become semi-invasive in some areas.
Lifespan
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Plant Type
Shrub
info

Key Facts About Butterfly bushes

Attributes of Butterfly bushes

Plant Height
61 cm to 91 cm
Spread
91 cm to 1.2 m
Flower Size
2.5 cm
Leaf type
Deciduous
Ideal Temperature
20 - 38 ℃

Scientific Classification of Butterfly bushes

distribution

Distribution of Butterfly bushes

Distribution Map of Butterfly bushes

distribution map
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
species

Exploring the Butterfly bushes Plants

8 most common species:
Buddleja davidii
Butterfly bush
Buddleja davidii, commonly known as butterfly bush, is a fast-growing shrub native to East Asia. This vigorous plant is usually cultivated as an ornamental, due to its extravagant purple inflorescences. It carries the name butterfly bush because its flowers are a valuable source of nutritious nectar for numerous butterfly species.
Buddleja alternifolia
Alternate-leaved butterfly-bush
Alternate-leaved butterfly-bush is a flowering plant endemic to China. It is a sought-after garden plant, particularly in the United Kingdom, due to its mildly fragrant cascade of lilac flowers that attract butterflies in particular. This is where the shrub gets its common name.
Buddleja lindleyana
Lindley's Butterflybush
Also called weeping butterfly bush, lindley's Butterflybush (Buddleja lindleyana) is a shrub that’s indigenous to China. The sweet-smelling flowers of this plant attract both butterflies and hummingbirds in droves. While many other plants will just wither away and die in locations with lots of sun and little shade, that’s not the case with lindley's Butterflybush.
Buddleja asiatica
Dog tail
Dog tail (*Buddleja asiatica*) is a useful wildflower since it is commercially used for animal fodder. In Nepal, the Thangmi people use the plant's attractive white flowers to make necklaces for weddings. This plant is a popular garden flower, and it has been grown in the UK since its introduction in 1874.
Show More Species

All Species of Butterfly bushes

popular genus

More Popular Genus

Dracaena
Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Ficus
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Rubus
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Acer
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Solanum
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Rosa
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Quercus
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
product icon close
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify grow and nurture the better way!
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17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
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Nearly 5 years of research
product icon
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
ad
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