Buddleia is an easy and fast-growing shrub, that will suit any garden where there is sun and well-drained soil.
There are larger and smaller varieties, good for borders and pots. Commonly known as the butterfly bush, the flower heads are full of nectar and are a magnet for many insects.
Flowers come in a wide range of colours including purple, blue, pink and white and even yellow. Flowers appear continuously for around four to six weeks in late summer.
Butterfly bushes, also known as buddleia or summer lilac, are a group of flowering shrubs that are beloved by gardeners for their ability to attract butterflies. With their arching branches, vibrantly colored blooms, and sweet fragrance, butterfly bushes add beauty and wildlife to landscapes.
If you want to see pictures of the many types of butterfly bushes, this article will provide descriptions and photos to help you identify them. We’ll go over their key features, bloom times, heights, and uses in landscaping.
What Does a Butterfly Bush Look Like?
A butterfly bush is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an arching fountain-like shape. The leaves are long and tapered. Butterfly bushes produce blooms on panicles, which are cone-shaped flower clusters ranging from 4 to 20 inches long.
The flower panicles can be various shades like purple, pink, orange, yellow, or white Some varieties have a two-tone effect Butterfly bushes bloom from mid-summer until the first frost. They range in mature size from 2 to 12 feet tall and wide.
Why Are They Called Butterfly Bushes?
Butterfly bushes get their common name from their ability to attract butterflies. The sweet nectar-rich flowers appeal to butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds Although they attract pollinators, butterfly bushes are not host plants for caterpillars.
Types of Butterfly Bushes with Descriptions and Pictures
Here are some of the most popular types of butterfly bushes to give you an idea of the range of flower colors and plant sizes:
Miss Molly
- 4-5 feet tall and wide
- Rich pinkish-red blooms
- Fragrant
- Good for borders, containers
Black Knight
- 5-8 feet tall, 4-6 feet wide
- Deep purple blooms
- Fragrant
- Good for borders, foundations
Nanho Blue
- 3-5 feet tall and wide
- Light purple blooms
- Good for cottage gardens, borders
Purple Prince
- 10-12 feet tall
- Purple-blue blooms
- Good for landscaping
Pugster Blue
- 2-3 feet tall and wide
- Compact
- Deep blue blooms
- Good for borders, containers
Pink Delight
- About 8 feet tall
- Bright pink blooms
- Good for hedges
Adonis Blue
- 4-5 feet tall and wide
- Dark blue blooms
Orange Eye
- 6-8 feet tall
- Orange blooms
- Very fragrant
Blue Chip
- 1-2 feet tall and wide
- Light purple blooms
- Compact, good for containers
Ice Chip
- 1.5-2 feet tall, 2.5 feet wide
- White blooms
- Compact
How to Use Butterfly Bushes in Landscaping
When it comes to using butterfly bushes in garden design, consider their mature size. Plant the larger varieties towards the back or middle of borders and beds. Use the dwarf varieties up front or in containers. Here are some landscaping uses for butterfly bushes:
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Specimen planting – Plant a butterfly bush as a stand-alone specimen so its flowers can really stand out.
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Borders – Use butterfly bushes as anchor plants or filler plants in mixed borders. Group them with perennials and annuals.
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Hedges – The dense foliage makes some butterfly bushes ideal for hedges. Plant dwarf varieties for low hedges.
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Foundations – Plant bushy butterfly bushes near house foundations or fences. Leave some space between for access.
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Containers – Choose dwarf butterfly bushes for planting in patio pots and planters on decks.
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Cottage gardens – The informal nature of butterfly bushes makes them perfect additions to cottage gardens.
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Cut flowers – Snip some of the long blooming panicles to add fragrance inside.
How to Care for Butterfly Bushes
Butterfly bushes thrive with full sun exposure and well-drained soil. Here are some care tips:
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Plant in spring or fall. Space plants 5-10 feet apart depending on mature size.
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Water first year plants regularly. Established plants only need occasional watering.
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Prune in early spring to shape and remove dead stems. Avoid heavy pruning before winter.
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Apply a 2-3 inch layer of compost around plants each spring. Avoid excess fertilizer.
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Mulch in spring to control weeds and insulate roots in winter.
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Deadhead flowers during fall bloom period to encourage more flowers.
Pictures of Butterfly Bushes Bring These Popular Shrubs to Life
Seeing pictures of the many butterfly bush varieties gives you a better idea of which ones to pick for your own landscape. Their flowers provide non-stop color from mid-summer through fall. With their graceful shapes and ability to attract pollinators, butterfly bushes deserve a spot in gardens and container plantings.
How to plant buddleia
If you have heavy clay soil, add a handful of grit to your planting hole for added drainage.
Watch Monty Don plant a buddleia in a border:
How to propagate buddleia
Many varieties of buddleja will self-seed freely, but may not stay true to type. You can also propagate from semi-ripe buddleia cuttings in summer and hardwood cuttings in autumn.
Top 5 Butterfly Bushes For Your Garden | NatureHills.com
FAQ
Why is butterfly bush a problem?
Butterfly bush is an invasive plant, meaning it crowds out beneficial plants that have naturally grown in your community for centuries. This species originally from Asia readily takes over space where native North American plants would normally thrive.
Where is the best place to plant a butterfly bush?
Light: Butterfly bushes grow and flower best in full sun. They will grow fine in part shade, especially in warmer climates, but their flowering may be reduced. Soil: Butterfly Bushes are not particular about the soil conditions, as long as it drains well. Poorly-drained soils can cause root rot.
How big do butterfly bushes get?
Butterfly bushes come in 2 general categories- a “larger” size that grows between 3 to 5 feet in width and 5 to 10 feet in height and the “dwarf” size that grows between 2 to 4 feet in width and 2 to 4 feet in height. There are various colors and bloom shapes that come in both categories.
Do butterfly bushes prefer sun or shade?
When we say full sun, we mean it – butterfly bush require a minimum of 8 hours of bright sunlight. Even in warm climates, plant them where they get no fewer than 6 hours of sun. Butterfly bush need perfect drainage.