UK plant library · shrub

Buddleja

Buddleja davidii · Scrophulariaceae

Butterfly bush; a fast-growing summer shrub

Photo: --IKAl 15:22, 23 July 2007 (UTC), CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Guv's tipPrune buddleja hard in early spring. It's drought tolerant once established and flowers from July to September.

Through the year

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sow or plant

In flower

Prune

Timings are for the UK as a whole. Northern and exposed gardens often run a couple of weeks later.

Any time; spring is ideal, or late spring once the soil warms

Flowers early to late summer (Jul-Sep)

Prune hard in early spring

Semi-ripe cuttings in summer, hardwood cuttings in autumn; self-seeds (not true to type)

Pest

Look for: Aphid colonies on buddleja shoots and leaves

What to do: Tolerate or wash off; encourage predators

Always read and follow the label on any treatment, and check it is approved for use where you live.

Pets and people: Non-toxic. Gardeners' World reports no toxic effects for Buddleja davidii, and Cats Protection lists buddleia as safe for cats

Weed risk: Self-seeds freely and has naturalised; regarded as invasive, but not on the GB legal invasive plant lists

Checked against two or more reputable gardening sources. How we check our facts

Keep it by the back door

Printable pest and disease charts with real photographs, and all 50 UK plants in one book.