Different Types of Butterfly Bushes: A Guide to These Beautiful Blooming Shrubs

Butterfly bushes, also known as summer lilacs, are fast-growing flowering shrubs that produce colorful and fragrant blooms that attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators With over 160 cultivars to choose from, butterfly bushes come in a wide array of sizes, flower colors, and growth habits

In this guide, we will explore the different types of butterfly bushes and highlight some of the most popular cultivars to grow in your garden.

Overview of Butterfly Bushes

Butterfly bushes belong to the genus Buddleia and are native to Asia and Africa. The most commonly grown species is Buddleja davidii, which is native to China.

These deciduous shrubs grow quickly, reaching anywhere from 2 to 15 feet tall depending on the variety. They bloom continuously from summer through fall on current year’s growth. The flowers grow in panicles ranging from 4 to 24 inches long.

Butterfly bushes thrive in full sun and prefer fertile, well-drained soil. They are drought and heat tolerant once established. To maintain their shape and encourage more profuse blooming, they should be pruned back hard each spring before new growth emerges.

Flower Colors

Butterfly bushes come in every color except true red. Here are some of the most popular flower color varieties:

• Whites: Ice Chip, Ivory, White Profusion, Pugster White
• Pinks: Pink Delight, Miss Molly, Pink Micro Chip
• Purples: Black Knight, Blue Chip Jr., Nanho Purple, Pugster Periwinkle
• Blues: Empire Blue, Pugster Blue, Sky Blue
• Yellows: Honeycomb, Sungold

Plant Sizes

Butterfly bushes range greatly in mature size:

• Dwarf varieties under 3 feet tall: Lo & Behold series, Pugster series
• Compact varieties 3-5 feet tall: Adonis Blue, Miss Molly, Nanho Purple
• Mid-size varieties 5-8 feet tall: Pink Delight, Ivory, Honeycomb
• Large varieties over 8 feet tall: Black Knight, Sky Blue, White Profusion, Sungold

The dwarf and compact butterfly bushes are ideal for containers or smaller gardens. The mid-size and large varieties make nice border plants or privacy hedges.

Special Features

Beyond flower color and size, there are some butterfly bushes prized for their unique features:

• Variegated foliage: Gold Splash, Pink Pagoda
• Bicolored blooms: Kaleidoscope Bicolor
• Dwarf habit: Lo & Behold series, Pugster series
• Hardiness: Pugster series
• Fragrance: Black Knight, Sky Blue
• Prolific blooms: Pink Delight, Adonis Blue

Top Butterfly Bush Varieties

Here is an overview of some of the most popular butterfly bush cultivars for gardens:

Pink Delight

One of the top picks, Pink Delight lives up to its name producing abundant bright pink blooms from summer into fall. It has an upright vase-shaped form growing 5-7 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide.

Pugster Blue

Part of the Pugster series bred for hardiness and compact size, Pugster Blue only reaches 2 feet tall and wide but pumps out full-sized blue flowers all season long. It’s perfect for containers.

Miss Violet

This compact butterfly bush grows 4-5 feet tall and wide and is loaded with violet-purple blooms contrasted with silvery-green leaves. It has excellent powdery mildew resistance.

Lo & Behold Blue Chip Jr.

One of the smallest varieties, Blue Chip Jr. is a dwarf butterfly bush reaching just 1-2 feet tall and wide. It produces soft blue-purple flowers continuously without deadheading. Great for rock gardens.

Sungold

If you want a bold splash of color, you can’t go wrong with Sungold and its bright golden yellow blooms. This is one of the largest varieties maturing at 8-15 feet tall with a spread of 4-10 feet wide.

White Profusion

Arguably the most popular white variety, White Profusion flowers from summer until frost with large, honey-scented panicles up to 12 inches long. It grows vigorously to 6-12 feet tall and wide.

Butterfly Bush Care Tips

To keep your butterfly bushes healthy and flowering profusely:

• Plant in full sun (at least 6 hours daily)
• Prune back by at least 1/3 each spring to encourage new growth
• Water weekly the first year, then only during droughts
• Apply fertilizer in early spring and again 6 weeks after spring pruning
• Stake tall varieties to provide support and prevent wind damage

Attract More Butterflies to Your Garden

By adding different types of butterfly bushes to your landscape, you’ll have non-stop flowers to attract a kaleidoscope of winged beauties to your yard. Be sure to include other nectar plants like coneflowers, lantana, and verbena for diversity. Then sit back and enjoy the fluttery show all season long!

The primary negative of the butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) is its invasive nature. While it attracts butterflies with its nectar, it doesn’t serve as a host plant for North American butterflies and can displace native plants that butterflies rely on.

Several butterfly bush (Buddleia) varieties are considered non-invasive, primarily those that have been bred to produce fewer or no viable seeds. These include the Lo & Behold® and Flutterby® series, as well as cultivars like ‘Miss Molly’, ‘Miss Pearl’, ‘Miss Ruby’, and ‘Miss Violet’.

“Miss Molly” and “Miss Ruby” are both popular varieties of Buddleja (Butterfly Bush), known for their vibrant colors and ability to attract pollinators. “Miss Molly” boasts deep, dark red-purple flowers, often described as a “sangria” shade, while “Miss Ruby” is renowned for its bright, rich pink blooms.