Are butterfly bushes native to North America?
Origins Although Butterfly Bush grows easily in our region, it is not native to North America. The Buddleja genus originated in central China and migrated across Asia and to the Americas, evolving into over 140 species as it spread. B. davidii, the most commonly cultivated species in our region, is a native of China.
Is butterfly bush good for butterflies?
Although eye-catching, hardy, and seemingly helpful to butterflies and other pollinators, Butterfly Bush is far from beneficial; in fact it’s actually an invasive species that can impair the health of our local ecosystems. Although Butterfly Bush grows easily in our region, it is not native to North America.
Are there butterfly Thistles in the US?
Non-native, invasive thistles are often promoted as butterfly plants, but you can avoid the proliferation of weeds by planting well-behaved native thistles. The cobweb thistle, Cirsium occidentale is elegant and showy, and one of its several varieties may be native in your region. Erigeron glaucus – Seaside Daisy and Skipper Butterfly.
What does a butterfly bush look like in summer?
Butterfly Bush blooms from mid-summer to early fall. Flowers form drooping or upright spikes at the end of branches. The wild-origin species is white-flowered with orange or yellow centers. Varieties bred for the garden are typically purple; or they may have pink, blue, magenta, yellow or maroon blooms.
Is butterfly bush invasive in southern California?
Take, for example, butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii). It behaves here in southern California but is very invasive in the cool humid climate of Washington. Here are some examples of invasive species in our region. Please don't plant these pests.
Is butterfly bush an invasive species?
Although eye-catching, hardy, and seemingly helpful to butterflies and other pollinators, Butterfly Bush is far from beneficial; in fact it's actually an invasive species that can impair the health of our local ecosystems.
Is butterfly bush a native plant?
It's not that butterfly bush is inherently a bad plant. It is native to China, not North America, Europe or New Zealand. The insects, birds and other residents with which it evolved in China and that depend on it for food there aren't present in the areas in which it was introduced.
What states are butterfly bush invasive?
Buddleia davidii plants have been declared invasive in most of the Pacific Northwest, areas along the California coast and on the eastern seaboard. That species also needs a little more water than some varieties as well.
Do hummingbirds like butterfly bushes?
Buddleia also known as Buddleja or Butterfly Bush These fast-growing shrubs bloom all summer and fall and are one of the easiest ways to attract lots of butterflies and hummingbirds.
Which butterfly bush is not invasive?
'Flutterby Pink' Butterfly Bush It rarely re-seeds, so it's non-invasive.
Should I get rid of my butterfly bush?
Plant parts should be disposed of responsibly, as branches and root-balls left on the ground can resprout. To control butterfly bush, without killing the plant, the shrub can be pruned back severely in the fall. This will produce a smaller, more compact plant in the spring.
Do butterfly bushes attract mosquitoes?
The scientists chose the butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) for their experiment because it's a very hardy plant that flowers throughout the year, and mosquitoes are attracted to it.
Are butterfly bushes banned in some states?
Butterfly bush is considered invasive in many states, as well as England and New Zealand. Some states, like Oregon, have even banned sales of the plant.
Why is butterfly bush considered invasive?
Each Butterfly Bush produces over 100,000 seeds, and they are distributed in the wind, so even though you may not see seedlings popping up in your garden, your Butterfly Bush is probably responsible for spreading devastation in natural areas like stream banks and disturbed industrial sites.
Are milkweed and butterfly bush the same thing?
They are not the same. Butterfly bush is a large shrub that is a great nectar plant whereas Butterfly Milkweed is a short milkweed that can be used as a host plant by Monarchs as well as being a nectar plant.
Do butterfly bushes attract bees?
Alternatively, grow a native shrub as a substitute. Butterfly bush attracts tiger swallowtails and monarchs. But this nectar plant attracts hummingbirds, too. The shrub also attracts the bees that pollinate other plants.
Are butterfly bushes bad for monarchs?
From this perspective, this plant species is not only physically displacing other native plants that are good hosts of local butterflies, it is also unable to provide the food the local caterpillars need… thus finally harming the butterfly population!
How do you control butterfly bushes?
With butterfly bush, often the most effective use of herbicides is to make a cut-stump treatment. The trunk of the bush should be cut off at the base and concentrated glyphosate (such as in Roundup) or triclopyr (such as in Garlon or Brush B Gon) should be applied to the freshly cut surface.
Is butterfly bush invasive in Florida?
Some authorities consider it to be invasive, so avoid planting at the edge of a preserve or open natural area...or cut off spent flowerheads before they go to seed. The flowers also attract hummingbirds.
What can I plant instead of a butterfly bush?
U.S. Native Plant Alternatives to Buddleja davidii (Butterfly Bush)Aesculus parviflora (Bottlebrush Buckeye) ... Amorpha canescens (Lead Plant) ... Ceanothus thyrsiflorus (Blue Blossom) ... Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. ... Cephalanthus occidentalis (Button Bush) ... Chilopsis linearis (Desert Willow) ... Clethra alnifolia (Summersweet)More items...
Where did the butterfly bush originate?
Origins. Although Butterfly Bush grows easily in our region, it is not native to North America. The Buddleja genus originated in central China and migrated across Asia and to the Americas, evolving into over 140 species as it spread. B. davidii, the most commonly cultivated species in our region, is a native of China.
What is a butterfly bush?
Butterfly Bush (Buddleja [or Buddleia] davidii) is a surefire attention-grabber. A common sight in our region’s gardens and landscape plantings, its fragrant conical blooms—typically festooned with fluttering butterflies and buzzing bees—are hard to miss. Although eye-catching, hardy, and seemingly helpful to butterflies and other pollinators, ...
What is the best plant to plant instead of butterfly bush?
Instead of planting Butterfly Bush, select a native flowering shrub appropriate for your site that is attractive to pollinators. For sunny, open garden or landscape plantings, try Sweet Pepperbush, also called Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) or Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica). For wetter soils, try Buttonbush ( Cephalanthis occidentalis )—a food source for moths—or New Jersey Tea ( Ceanothus americanus ). You can also plant drifts of tall native perennials. Favorites of butterflies include Blazing Star ( Liatris); Purple Coneflower ( Echinacea purpurea); Giant Hyssop ( Agastache ); Joe-Pye Weed ( Eutrochium) species and Milkweed ( Asclepias) species. Click here to find more ideas for butterfly plantings.
Why do butterflies like butterfly bushes?
Butterfly Bush benefits pollinators but only at one stage of their life cycle. It attracts butterflies because it provides copious nectar. However, butterflies need host plants on which to lay eggs and on which their caterpillars feed. Not a single native caterpillar eats Butterfly Bush leaves.
What are some substitutes for butterfly bush?
Native substitutes for Butterfly Bush. Butterfly on a Purple Coneflower ( Echinacea purpurea). Instead of planting Butterfly Bush, select a native flowering shrub appropriate for your site that is attractive to pollinators.
How to prevent butterfly bush from spreading?
If you already have Butterfly Bush as a planting, and do not want to remove it, you should prevent the spread out of your garden by removing old flowerheads in the fall prior to seed dispersal. Dispose of the flowerheads in a controlled manner. Do not dump clippings or flowerheads in natural areas or compost piles.
How many seeds does a butterfly bush have?
It excels at seed production and dispersal. A study at Longwood Gardens found that there were over 40,000 seeds on a single flower spike. The shrub reaches maturity quite quickly, often producing extremely lightweight, winged seeds within the first year of growth, which travel far distances by way of water or wind. The germination rate is about 80 percent or above. These seeds can remain viable for three to five years in soil, and any cut stems can sprout again.
What butterfly plant has buckeye caterpillars?
Observant home gardener Ria de Grassi recently noticed four buckeye caterpillars chomping away on her firecracker plant (Russelia equisetiformis). Not aware that this plant was considered a host plant for butterfly larvae, Ria snapped a few photos and sent them to UC Davis butterfly expert Dr. Arthur Shapiro for confirmation. Not only did he confirm her discovery of a new larval host plant for buckeye butterflies, he wrote a note about it for publication in the winter issue of the News of the Lepidopterists’ Society (see below).
What is the name of the plant that buckeyes use as a host?
SHAPIRO, A.M. & K. BIGGS. 2010. Use of Hippuris, an emergent aquatic plant, as a larval host by the buckeye, Junonia coenia, in Northern California. J. Res. Lepid. 42: 79-83.
Why do butterflies like to plant in groups?
Planting lots of the same plants in groups means butterflies needn’t travel as far, and keeps them in your garden longer.
What do white butterflies eat?
The pine white butterfly’s caterpillars feed on needles of pines and their kin, like Douglas-fir and true firs, while larvae of the western pine elfin eat needles of shore pine ( Pinus contorta var. contorta ).
What is a Reyes Ceanothus?
Reyes Ceanothus (Ceanothus gloriosus) by Lori Hubbart. Butterflies are the colorful heralds of summer, as welcome in our gardens as flowers on the wing. Nectar-bearing plants will bring butterflies, but all-around butterfly gardening means living with caterpillars, chewed leaves and some untidiness. A butterfly garden should be sheltered ...
What caterpillars do painted ladies eat?
The American or Virginia lady uses pearly everlasting, Anaphalis margaritacea, and cudweeds, Gnaphalium and Pseudognaphalium species, and sagebrush, Artemisia species.
What do butterfly larvae eat?
Some butterfly larvae are even adapted to feed on the tough leaves of woody plants. The California sister, dark with white bands and orange upper wing corners, needs oaks for its larvae. They can also eat the closely related tanbark oak ( Notholithocarpus densiflorus) . Chinquapins, Chrysolepis species, are larval hosts for the golden hairstreak.
What is the name of the plant with white flowers?
There are others, also showy and easy to grow. Tiny, white flowers in umbels are characteristic of the carrot family, Apiaceae, and big, bold Angelica species and cow parsnip, Heracleum maximum, can feed a lot of insects. Try Lomatium species, smaller, often yellow-flowered, if you are in their native range.
What is the family of knotweed?
The knotweed family, Polygonaceae, includes wild buckwheats, from the coastal chalk buckwheat, Eriogononum latifolium, to the grand Saint Catherine’s lace, E. giganteum, from Santa Catalina Island and the mountain-dwelling sulfur flower, E. umbellatum . There are others, also showy and easy to grow.
What is the name of the butterfly that grows on a coastal bluff?
Astragalus nuttallii, Nuttall's Milkvetch grows on coastal bluffs but is easy in most gardens and many of the Sulfur butterflies. Baccharis douglasii, Marsh Baccharis and most other most of the Baccharis spp. serve as nectar sources and larval sources.
What is the name of the plant that gets eaten by butterfly larvae?
Asclepias fascicularis, Narrowleaf Milkweed gets eaten by the butterfly larva.
What shrubs attract butterflies?
The plant will attract butterflies as well as birds including hummingbirds! 2. Cephalanthus occidentalis Buttonbush.
How tall does a buttonbush grow?
Cephalanthus occidentalis Buttonbush. This shrub can grow from 6-12ft tall and has white or pale-pink blooms that can last from June to September. Buttonbush is deer resistant, a good nectar source and will attract birds, bees and butterflies to your yard. 3.
Is the butterfly bush native to Nort America?
Butterfly bush is not native to Nort America.
Is a butterfly bush harmful to the environment?
Not only is butterfly bush harmful for the eco-system but it’s also an ineffective host plant for butterflies despite the name. A good host plant will support the entire life-cycle of a species and the butterfly bush only supports the adult stage for butterflies.
Is a shrub invasive?
The shrub is actually considered to be invasive, meaning it competes with the native plants in the area and will continue to spread and be harmful to the local eco-system. It is important that we keep plant diversity in our yards so they can support more than just one species.
Is butterfly bush good for butterflies?
The shrub is actually considered to be invasive, meaning it competes with the native plants in the area and will continue to spread and be harmful to the local eco-system. It is important that we keep plant diversity in our yards so they can support more than just one species. Not only is butterfly bush harmful for the eco-system but it’s also an ineffective host plant for butterflies despite the name. A good host plant will support the entire life-cycle of a species and the butterfly bush only supports the adult stage for butterflies. With no acceptable habitat for butterfly reproduction or leaves for their offspring to feed on, don’t expect to see a thriving butterfly community with only butterfly bush in your yard. To achieve a thriving butterfly community in your yard it is important to include plants that produce nectar and attract adult butterflies as well as and plants that are larval hosts for their offspring.
Origins
Reproduction
- Butterfly Bush is extremely successful at reproduction, giving it a competitive advantage over native flowering shrubs. It excels at seed production and dispersal. A study at Longwood Gardens found that there were over 40,000 seeds on a single flower spike. The shrub reaches maturity quite quickly, often producing extremely lightweight, winged seeds within the first year of growth…
Negative Impacts
- Butterfly Bush benefits pollinators but only at one stage of their life cycle. It attracts butterflies because it provides copious nectar. However, butterflies need host plants on which to lay eggs and on which their caterpillars feed. Not a single native caterpillar eats Butterfly Bush leaves. If Butterfly Bush were just a pretty garden shrub, it would be less of a concern. But its high reprodu…
Control
- Butterfly Bush can be difficult to manage once it has been established. Seedlings can be manually removed. It is possible to uproot and dig out mature specimens. The roots must be removed or they will re-sprout. Areas around the removal site should be planted with a native ground cover to prevent future seedling germination. You must dispose of any plant material completely, by burn…
Non-Invasive Variants
- There have been recent introductions to the garden markets of purportedly non-invasive Butterfly Bush. These plants have been bred to not set as much seed. If you simply must have a Butterfly Bush, these varieties may be an option, but keep in mind that they don’t provide butterflies with the hosting benefits of native flowering shrubs. And history is replete with plants touted as non-inva…