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Buddleja and Butterfly Bush

Buddleja is called butterfly bush for a reason. Through summer and autumn it carries long, honey scented flower spikes that butterflies and bees visit all day. It is fast, forgiving and flowers on new growth, so even a hard prune is followed by a full display. This range covers the tall arching varieties in purple, pink, red and gold, silver leaved forms and a dwarf for pots and small gardens. Every plant is delivered Australia wide.

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How to choose a buddleja

Decide how much room you have. The Buddleja davidii varieties grow to about 2.5m in a season: Black Knight has the darkest purple spikes, Royal Red is magenta red and Pink Delight a clear pink. Golden Glow carries rounded heads of yellow flushed orange, and the orange ball tree is a larger shrub to 3.5m with honey scented orange globes in spring. Lochinch and Silver Anniversary have silver grey foliage, the second on a compact 1.2m plant with white flowers. For pots and small beds, Pink Micro Chip stays near 60cm tall and flowers for months.

Where buddleja works

Give buddleja full sun and drainage. It grows in poor soil, takes frost and handles dry spells once established, and it is at its best in temperate and cool climates. Plant it at the back of a border, as an informal screen, or near a seat or window where the scent and the visitors can be enjoyed. It is a mainstay of bee and butterfly friendly plants and one of our most fragrant plants for summer.

Planting and spacing

Space tall varieties 1.5m to 2m apart and dwarf forms 60cm to 80cm apart. Plant level with the soil, mulch and water weekly through the first summer. No special soil preparation is needed beyond loosening heavy ground.

Care basics

Prune hard in late winter, cutting tall varieties back to about 50cm. This keeps the shrub compact and gives larger flower spikes. Remove spent spikes through summer to extend flowering and to stop the plant setting seed, which matters near bushland because seedlings can spread. Feed in spring. Grown this way it is a long season source of colour among our flowering plants.

Common questions

How fast does butterfly bush grow?

Very fast. Tall varieties reach 2m or more in one growing season after a winter prune.

When should I prune buddleja?

In late winter, before new growth starts. Cut back hard: it flowers on the new season's shoots.

Does buddleja really attract butterflies?

Yes. The flowers are rich in nectar and draw butterflies, bees and other pollinators through summer and autumn.

Can buddleja grow in a pot?

The dwarf forms such as Pink Micro Chip suit pots well. Tall varieties are better in the ground.