Columnists > Ellen Brown > GuidesFebruary 13, 2006

Growing: Butterfly Bush

By Ellen Brown

Botanical Name: Buddleja davidii
Life Cycle: perennial shrub
Planting Time: spring or fall
Height: 4' to 10'
Exposure: full sun
Soil: rich, moist, well-drained soil; drainage is a must
Hardiness: zones 5 to 9
Bloom Time: late spring to early summer
Flower: pink, fuchsia, light blue, lavender flowers on spikes
Foliage: green
Propagation: seeds, semi-hardwood cuttings
Suggested Use: shrub (south of zone 6 ) or perennial (northern zones) for foundation plantings, butterfly gardens or backdrops for beds and borders
Growing Hints: Start indoors from seeds in mid to late winter, purchase small potted plants (they grow fast), or start from semi-hardwood cuttings in early spring or fall. Plants make flowers on new stems so cut them back hard each spring (to the ground in the North and to a foot above ground in the South).
Interesting Facts: For continuous flowers all summer, trim spent flower clusters off just above a set of leaves and plants will send out two new spikes to replace the one you cut off. As they name suggests, the Butterfly Bush is very attractive to butterflies.

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