Are there different types of butterfly bushes?
Butterfly Bush Varieties: Kinds Of Butterfly Bushes To Grow. Of the hundreds of kinds of butterfly bushes in the world, most butterfly bush varieties available in commerce are variations of Buddleia davidii. These shrubs grow to 20 feet tall. They are amazingly tough, hardy to minus 20 degrees F. (-28 C.), yet tolerant of far warmer climates.
What does a butterfly bush look like?
Butterfly bush ( Buddleia davidii) is a deciduous shrub with an arching habit and impressive flowers. It's easy to grow and produces striking flower spikes. Thanks to the magic of cultivar developers, the flowers now come in a number of colors, including pink, yellow blue, and multicolors.
Why is it called a butterfly bush?
The vibrantly colored flower spikes attract a multitude of butterflies—hence the common name butterfly bush. Dwarf butterfly bushes are beautiful shrubs for growing in small, compact gardens or containers.
What is the name of the butterfly bush with blue flowers?
Pugster Blue ® is especially exciting, with its true-blue blooms. Is butterfly bush invasive? Butterfly bush has become invasive in some areas, and is on invasive plant watchlists or even banned in some states.
Are there different types of butterfly bushes?
Summer lilacBuddleja globosaFountain butterfly‑b...Buddleja 'Lochinch'Buddleja salignaBuddleja crispaButterfly bush/Lower classifications
Why is it called a butterfly bush?
Several species are popular garden plants, the species are commonly known as 'butterfly bushes' owing to their attractiveness to butterflies, and have become staples of the modern butterfly garden; they are also attractive to bees and moths.
What kind of bush is a butterfly bush?
How to Grow and Care for Butterfly BushCommon NameButterfly bushBotanical NameBuddleja davidiiFamilyScrophulariaceaePlant TypeShrub, perennialMature Size3–12 ft. tall, 3-8-ft. wide7 more rows•Jun 22, 2022
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.
Is butterfly bush toxic to dogs?
Although butterfly bushes (Buddleja davidii) are not edible, they are no more toxic than any garden plant. They should be safe to plant where children, dogs, cats, and other animals live. In fact, butterfly bushes are deer resistant.
Do you cut back butterfly bushes?
Butterfly bushes do not need to be pruned every year. In fact, you only need to prune them when they get too large for the space allotted. But since butterfly bushes only bloom on new growth many gardeners prune them severely each spring to encourage lots of new growth and lots of flowers.
Should I cut my butterfly bush to the ground?
Most standard butterfly bushes (B. davidii) look best if pruned close to the ground in late winter; other types, such as small or dwarf varieties like Lo and Behold, require lighter pruning. Look for older, dead stems and cut them close to the ground.
Should I cut back my butterfly bush for winter?
Most butterfly bushes lose their leaves in late fall, and the roots remain viable underground while the plant winters over. That means in most growing zones, there is no need to prune your butterfly bush before winter. In fact, pruning too late in fall could leave it more susceptible to damage.
Are butterfly bushes good for butterflies?
The fact is, butterflies love butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii), which reliably produces nectar-rich flowers for a long period of time. Gardeners love it, too, because it's tough, undemanding and offers plenty of those aforementioned flowers.
Should I cut my butterfly bush to the ground?
Most standard butterfly bushes (B. davidii) look best if pruned close to the ground in late winter; other types, such as small or dwarf varieties like Lo and Behold, require lighter pruning. Look for older, dead stems and cut them close to the ground.
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.
How long do butterfly bushes live?
Its popularity has real reasons: the plant grows fast, flowers very early on in its life cycle, and produces flowers throughout its life span of up to 30 years. The flowers smell good, are very showy and pretty, with large clusters that bloom for several days.
Types of Butterfly Bushes For Cool Climates
If you live somewhere that gets winter frost and temperatures get into “minus” territory, you can still plant selected butterfly bush types. Althou...
Butterfly Bush Varieties For Warmer Regions
Some butterfly bushes grow well in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 10. In these zones, the different butterfly bushe...
Noninvasive Butterfly Bush Types
Better yet, put Mother Nature before your personal preferences. Butterfly bush is an invasive species that has escaped cultivation in many states b...
BUTTERFLY BUSH CARE
Butterfly bush are easy to grow, but you do need to know a bit about their preferences and requirements to achieve maximum success.
BUTTERFLY BUSH VARIETIES
You’ll find a range of colors, sizes, and habits among our butterfly bushes:
BUDDLEIA FAQ
Butterfly bush has become invasive in some areas, and is on invasive plant watchlists or even banned in some states. This is why we work with renown plant breeder Dr. Dennis Werner of North Carolina State University to introduce seedless and non-invasive varieties, like the Lo & Behold ® series and the “Miss” varieties.
Types of Butterfly Bushes for Cool Climates
If you live somewhere that gets winter frost and temperatures get into “minus” territory, you can still plant selected butterfly bush types. Although butterfly bushes are evergreen in warmer climes, in cool areas they die back in fall, then regrow rapidly in spring.
Butterfly Bush Varieties for Warmer Regions
Some butterfly bushes grow well in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 10. In these zones, the different butterfly bushes are evergreen and retain their leaves all winter long.
Noninvasive Butterfly Bush Types
Better yet, put Mother Nature before your personal preferences. Butterfly bush is an invasive species that has escaped cultivation in many states because of the numerous seeds grown by the plants. It is illegal to buy or sell these shrubs in some states, like Oregon.
How to Grow Butterfly Bush
The popularity of butterfly bushes is no surprise as they're beautiful, easy to grow, and require minimal day-to-day care. Even major storms have little effect on these hardy shrubs. They thrive in harsh environments, such as polluted urban settings. They're also resistant to insect pests, drought, and stress.
Propagating Butterfly Bush
It's rare that you would seek to propagate this bush, since it spreads so readily, but if you do, collecting the seeds heads will give you plenty of seeds to replant wherever you wish.
Varieties of Butterfly Bush
Butterfly bush should be planted with caution, and only if you are willing to remove spent flower heads to avoid spreading the seeds. While there are many popular varieties, including Buddleia x weyeriana 'Bicolor', and Buddleja davidii 'Black Night', better choices are offered by newer non-seeding varieties:
Pruning
The spent flower spikes of butterfly bush should be removed promptly after flowering to stimulate continued blooming right up to frost. This plant grows rapidly, and pruning it all the way to ground level each spring stimulates vigorous growth and profuse flowering.
Butterfly Bush Size
Butterfly bush is a medium-sized flowering shrub that grows between 5 and 10 ft. (1.5 – 3 m) tall and between 4 and 10 ft. (1 – 3 m) wide. Buddleja shrubs are identified by their upright, arching branches, lanceolate leaves, and long flower clusters (panicles) growing 4” to 20” (10 – 50 cm) long.
Dwarf Butterfly Bush Size
A dwarf butterfly bush is a short shrub that grows between 2 and 3 ft. (0.6 – 1 m) tall and wide. Like the larger varieties, dwarf butterfly bushes have a rounded growth habit with arching branches. The attractive feature of the miniature shrubs is their stunning conical flower clusters.
What Is Dwarf Butterfly Bush?
A dwarf butterfly bush is a smaller version of the regular butterfly shrub. Most miniature butterfly bushes are seedless and, therefore, sterile. This fact means that dwarf butterfly bushes are typically non-invasive. Thanks to their small size, you can plant several miniature shrubs in your landscape.
Non-Invasive Butterfly Bush Plants
Butterfly bush shrubs are not native to North America. Their masses of flowers produce a ton of seeds, classing the plant as noxious and invasive. However, non-invasive varieties of Buddleia can grow where the invasive species are banned. Non-invasive butterfly bushes are sterile and don’t produce many seeds.
Common Varieties of Dwarf Butterfly Bush
Most varieties of dwarf butterfly bush plants are suitable for growing in any garden. The dwarf hybrids don’t take up much room in a landscape. The small bushes bloom in several colors, such as shades of purple, white, pink and orange.
Planting Butterfly Bush in the Garden
Butterfly bushes thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. Too much shade can result in fewer blooms that are pale. It’s best to plant a dwarf butterfly bush in early spring or fall. This allows the roots time to develop before heat or frost stresses the new shrub.
How to Care for Butterfly Bush
To care for a butterfly bush, grow the shrub in full sun, where it gets at least eight hours of sunlight daily. Grow Buddleja in slightly acidic, well-drained soil. The shrub is relatively drought-tolerant, so only water when the top layer of soil dries. For healthy growth, regularly prune in spring.
Growth Rate
Butterfly bushes grow very fast and can reach mature size in 1 to 2 growing seasons.
Landscape Use
Butterfly bushes form the foundation for numerous butterfly gardens and are prized for their long, summer bloom period. Many cultivars will flower from June through October (if deadheaded) with peak bloom in July and August. They produce 5- to 12-inch-long panicles (i.e.
Cultivars
There are an overwhelming number of cultivars available and also a number of related species and hybrids. The list below contains some of the most commonly available cultivars. It is advisable to buy from reputable nurseries as plants of his species are often mislabeled.
Related Species
Buddleja fallowiana: This is one of the best butterfly bushes for foliage interest. The leaves are 2 to 4 inches long and heavily felted, giving a decidedly silver-gray overall appearance. Plants can reach 10 to 15 feet tall, but can easily be maintained lower. Flower heads are white to lavender and 6 to 8 inches long.
Blues and Purples
If you’re looking for something with blooms that range in color from blue to lavender, there are a plethora of purple butterfly bush varieties out there.
Pinks and Reds
Ranging in shade and hue from light pinks to nearly red types, breeders are constantly coming out with new and exciting rosy hued butterfly bush varieties.
Yellows and Oranges
Maybe it’s because the yellow and orange varieties are so bright and colorful, but for some reason my mouth waters when I see these yellow blooms. I bet the butterflies agree.
Whites
Eye-catching snowy blooms providing stark contrast against green foliage and other more colorful specimens in the garden – sounds pretty, doesn’t it?
Rainbows and Butterflies
If reading through this list didn’t leave you with bright visions of color, the butterflies your Buddleia attracts will.
Quick Overview
Let’s learn a little bit more about the butterfly bush. They are actually native to Asia, to China, and the Himalayas, to be exact. They caught the eye of botanist Adam Buddle, which is of no surprise, due to their beauty and easy maintenance.
How to Choose a Butterfly Bush
Butterfly bushes are considered invasive plants, meaning that if they aren’t native to an area, they can push out the plants that are. If you plan on introducing these shrubs into your garden, follow our tips below to ensure you choose the right one.
How to Care for a Butterfly Bush
We mentioned that they were easy to care for and are resilient, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need proper attention and care.
How Did They Earn Their Name?
Other than the obvious reason that they attract butterflies, what is the real reason they earned their name? Butterflies love their namesake shrub because the flowers contain high concentrations of nectar. They nourish the mature butterflies, but not the baby caterpillars.
Choosing a Butterfly Bush
We won’t go too much into the science of these plants, so this is just an easy guide on the type of butterfly bush, depending on the color you want and the height and shape.
Conclusion
Butterfly bushes are attractive to many people because they are beacons for lovely insects. They have many flowers in a single stem that comes in vivid colors and potent fragrances. This is hard to beat in terms of blooming duration.
Butterfly Bush Planting
Planting a butterfly bush in an optimum location minimizes the time you’ll spend on maintenance. Choose a sunny or partly shaded area where the soil is well-drained. Soil that is constantly wet encourages rot. When planted in good quality garden soil, a butterfly bush rarely needs fertilizer.
How to Care for a Butterfly Bush
Butterfly bush care is easy. Water the shrub slowly and deeply during prolonged dry spells so that the soil absorbs the water deep into the root zone.
Problems with Butterfly Bushes
Problems with butterfly bushes include root rot and the occasional caterpillar. Planting the shrub in well-drained soil usually eliminates the chances of root rot. The symptoms are yellowing leaves, and in severe cases, twig or stem dieback.
