White Profusion Buddleia

White Profusion Buddleia (Buddleja davidii 'White Profusion') is a vigorous butterfly bush that reaches about 2m tall and 1.5m wide. From summer to autumn it carries creamy white, honey scented spikes up to 30cm long. It is one of the oldest buddleia varieties and among the most cold hardy, surviving frosts down to about -20C.

Why you'll love it

• Long creamy white spikes. The flower clusters reach 30cm and carry a honey fragrance, a calm colour that suits almost any planting.
• Very cold hardy. It handles frosts down to about -20C, far colder than most Australian gardens ever see.
• A proven performer. It is one of the oldest varieties and still one of the best, and it flowers freely with little attention.
• Butterflies, bees and birds. The scent and nectar bring wildlife to your garden through summer and autumn.
• Left alone by rabbits. It is rabbit resistant, as far as any plant can be, which helps on semi rural blocks.

Where it works best

Cottage and urban gardens. Use it as a feature shrub in a mixed border, planted 1.5m apart, where the pale spikes brighten darker foliage.

Wildlife plantings. Set a group with 1.5m between plants in a sunny corner. The nectar is a draw card for butterflies in the warm months.

Cold gardens. Where frosts hold back more tender shrubs, White Profusion keeps flowering year after year.

Growing White Profusion Buddleia in Australia

Position and climate. Choose a sunny position. It is frost hardy and drought tolerant, suiting cool and temperate districts and Mediterranean climates, and it also grows in the subtropics.

Soil. It likes free draining soil and is happy in poor soil, but it dislikes wet feet. Raise the bed on heavy clay.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly for around 12 weeks until established. Fertilise in spring with slow release fertiliser, and give an extra boost in the summer heat with a seaweed tonic.

Pruning. Hard prune or coppice after flowering to maintain bushiness and heavier flowering. Remove spent spikes before seed sets. Buddleias can self seed in some districts and are treated as environmental weeds in parts of Australia, so check local weed lists.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell White Profusion Buddleia as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, in 140mm pots in packs of 10 and in 200mm pots in packs of 6. Tube stock is the economical choice for a group, and the 200mm pots give more stems in the first year. Expect vigorous growth in warm weather and flowers in the first summer or two.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Frost tolerant plants in Australia
• The full buddleja collection
• Attract bees and butterflies
• Building a cottage garden that suits Australia

Common questions

Is it really that cold hardy?

Yes. It is very cold hardy and tolerates frosts down to about -20C. That makes it one of the most dependable flowering shrubs for frosty districts.

Why does it need hard pruning?

Because it flowers on new growth. Cutting it back or coppicing it after flowering keeps it bushy and gives heavier flowering the next season.

Will it cope with wet soil?

No. It likes free draining soil, even poor soil, but dislikes wet feet. On heavy clay, plant on a mound or in a raised bed.