Plant Taxonomy of Butterfly Bushes: Plant taxonomy classifies butterfly bush as Buddleja davidii, more commonly given as Buddleia davidii.
Plant Type for Butterfly Bushes (Buddleia Davidii): Butterfly bushes (Buddleia davidii) are perennials. They are considered shrubs, although many people don't think of them as that.
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones for Butterfly Bushes: The climate is most favorable for growing butterfly bushes in USDA plant hardiness zones 5-10.
Wildlife Attracted by Butterfly Bushes: Butterfly bushes (Buddleia davidii) have a prime place in butterfly gardens, and are particularly adept at attracting tiger swallowtails. But butterfly bushes also attract hummingbirds, making them must-haves for hummingbird gardens, too. And don't forget the bees: butterfly bushes will also attract the bees that will pollinate other plants in your garden.
Characteristics of Butterfly Bush Plants: There are many cultivars of butterfly bushes (Buddleia davidii), and exact plant characteristics will vary. Growing conditions will also have an impact on the plant's mature size. But generally speaking, butterfly bushes can get 6'-12' tall and have a spread of 4'-15'. Blooms on butterfly bushes can be purple, pink, white, or red, and they usually have an orange "throat" in the center. Butterfly bush plants will bloom throughout the summer. Leaves are lance-shaped and greyish-green.
Plant Care for Butterfly Bushes : Mulch butterfly bushes (Buddleia davidii) in the fall, then prune the plants back to the ground in late winter. This perennial will re-emerge from its roots in spring. Blooms tend to be larger and more prolific on butterfly bush's new growth, giving you incentive for pruning it. You essentially want to treat butterfly bush plant as if it were an herbaceous perennial rather than a shrub.
Sun and Soil Requirements for Butterfly Bushes: Butterfly bush plants like full sun and a well-drained soil. Butterfly bushes are relatively drought-tolerant.
Butterfly Bush in Garden Design: Even if you don't care about attracting wildlife, you can use butterfly bush for aesthetic purposes. Butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) bears long flower spikes with clusters of flowers. As a tall plant, butterfly bush is a good choice for the back row of a perennial border. To achieve maximum visual appeal, mass plantings of butterfly bush together. The natural unruliness of butterfly bush plant lends itself to use in "cottage gardens."
Caveats Concerning Butterfly Bush: Butterfly bushes (Buddleia davidii) are considered invasive plants in some areas, especially in warm climates. Take measures to confine butterfly bush within the bounds of your garden, such as removing volunteer seedlings.
More About Butterfly Bushes: Don't confuse butterfly bush plants (Buddleia davidii) with butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa). Butterfly weed is a type of milkweed and serves as a host for the caterpillars of monarch butterflies. Adult tiger swallowtails and black swallowtails enjoy its nectar. Both butterfly weed and butterfly bush are sometimes referred to simply as "the butterfly plant." Butterfly weed, however, is entirely unrelated to butterfly bush.
Buddleia davidii 'Black Knight' is one of the most popular cultivars of butterfly bush. Its purple flowers are so dark that they are almost black.
Buddleia davidii 'Black Knight' is one of the most popular cultivars of butterfly bush. Its purple flowers are so dark that they are almost black.
