Butterfly bush is a shrub native to China whose summer flowers attract adult butterflies. Its seedlings can spread beyond gardens, and it is invasive in parts of the United States. It is also called summer lilac.
Appearance
Growth form
This deciduous shrub reaches about 6–12 ft (1.8–3.7 m) tall, with arching stems.
Leaves
Leaves grow in opposite pairs and are dark green above, pale and softly hairy below.
Flowers
Fragrant purple flower spikes have many small tubular blooms with orange centers. Garden forms can also be white or pink.
Tall verbena has wiry, mostly leafless stems topped by separate small purple clusters. Butterfly bush has woody branches and long, dense flower spikes.
Common lilac has broad, often heart-shaped leaves and flowers in spring. Butterfly bush has narrow leaves with pale undersides and flowers in summer.
Where it lives
Typical habitats
gardens
roadsides
disturbed ground
Range
Native to China, it is grown in U.S. gardens and has escaped in places such as Oregon and North Carolina.
Preferred conditions
In North Carolina gardens it grows best in full sun and well-drained soil. U.S. 5–9 are commonly given for this species.
Life cycle
Seed dispersal
Light seeds spread by wind and water, and seedlings may establish outside gardens.
Connected species
Ties with other wildlife
In U.S. gardens, adult monarch butterflies are among the butterflies that visit the flowers for nectar.
Pollinators
Adult butterflies and other nectar-feeding insects visit the flowers.
Name and classification
Varieties and forms
Garden selections vary in size and in purple, pink, or white flower color. Weyer's butterfly bush (Buddleja × weyeriana) is a separate with yellow or cream-colored flowers.
Conservation
IUCN Red List
NENot Evaluated·Not yet assessed
Threats
Escaped plants can crowd native plants in natural areas.
Culture and stories
Culture and stories
Compact or low-seed garden selections are sold. Oregon regulates butterfly bush as a noxious weed and allows only approved low-seed cultivars for sale or propagation; rules vary by state.