Butterfly Bush
Buddleja davidii
Butterfly bush is a fast-growing shrub with long, honey-scented flower spikes in purple, pink, white or blue from summer to autumn, irresistible to butterflies.
Photo: --IKAl 15:22, 23 July 2007 (UTC) · CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun
Watering
Low
Water young plants; established plants are drought tolerant.
Soil
Well-drained soil of almost any type; pH 6.0–8.0.
Temperature and humidity
-20–38 °C · Moderate humidity
Feeding
Little feeding needed.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by stem cuttings, seed
Cut back hard to 30–60 cm in early spring; flowers form on new growth. Deadhead to prevent seeding.
Not considered seriously toxic.
Top Cultivation Tips
Invasive in some regions; choose sterile varieties.
Dwarf types suit pots.
Remove faded spikes for more flowers.
Butterflies need host plants for caterpillars too.
Common problems
Aphids
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new shoots and buds, sucking sap and leaving sticky honeydew behind.
How to treat it →DiseaseLeaf spot
Fungal or bacterial infections that cause brown, black or purple spots on leaves, often with a yellow halo, leading to early leaf drop.
How to treat it →PestSpider mites
Tiny sap-sucking mites that thrive in hot, dry conditions, causing speckled, dull leaves and fine webbing.
How to treat it →
