Commonly referred to as a butterfly bush, Buddleia davidii is a deciduous shrub native to forest clearings, limestone outcrops, mountain slopes, and Rocky River banks in America, Africa, and Asia.
Buddleia (orth. Var. Buddleja) is a genus with over 140 flowering plant species[1] in the Scrophulariaceae (figwort) family.
Usually, it grows up to 6-12 feet (less commonly up to 15 feet) tall. It is characterized by its bushy growth, arched stems, fragrant/ showy flowers, and vigorous growth.
Axillary and terminal spike-shaped flower clusters bloom from early summer to late summer, sometimes until the first frost.
The flowers are tightly packed in remarkable cone-shaped panicles 6 to 18″ in length. In nature, the flowers of the erect species are lavender to purple with an orange-yellow throat.
Many named varieties have been introduced over the years, expanding the flower range colors to include pink, yellow, white, and red.
The flowers (each up to ½ inch long) are lightly scented and, as their common name (butterfly bush) suggests, very captivating to butterflies.
