Buddleia davidii
Butterfly Bush
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Buddleia genus in the family Buddleiaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Buddleiaceae
- Genus
- Buddleia
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- vigorous
- Height
- 3 m
- Spread
- 3 m
- Fertility
- Bees, Lepidoptera
- Flower type
- monoecious
- Pollinators
- Bees, Lepidoptera
Uses
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Black or green dyes can be obtained from the flowers, leaves and stems combined[5]. An orange-gold to brown dye can be obtained from the flowers[5].
- Product or use
- Dye
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - China. Naturalized in Britain[6].
- Habitat
- Found in rocky riverside habitats 1300 - 2600 metres in China[9]. Waste places, often on brick walls in Britain[6].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- high wind, maritime exposure, drought
- Wind
- Yes
- Maritime
- Yes
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- tolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - cold stratify for 4 weeks at 4°c[4] and surface sow the seed in February/March in a greenhouse[12][3]. Germination usually takes place within 3 - 4 weeks at 21°c[4]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter, planting them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Seedlings are inclined to damp off and so should be watered with care and kept well-ventilated[12]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[2][3]. Use short side-shoots[12]. Very high percentage[3]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 15 - 20cm long, October/November in a frame[9].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Requires a sunny position[2][7]. Prefers a rich loamy well-drained soil[2][9]. Very tolerant of alkaline soils, atmospheric pollution and maritime exposure[9]. Grows best on dry soils of low fertility, where it can seed itself freely[7]. Plants are hardy to about -15°c[8], they resprout from the base if cut back by cold weather[9]. A very ornamental plant[1], it hybridizes freely with other members of this genus. Polymorphic, there are many named varieties, developed for their ornamental value[7]. The flowers emit a musk-like fragrance like heather honey[10]. Plants flower mainly on the current years growth so a hard pruning in spring will encourage better flowering[9]. An excellent plant for bees and butterflies[11].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009
Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan. 1989-00-00
Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
Carter D. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe. Pan 1982-00-00 ISBN 0-330-26642-x
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00