Buddleja davidii Niches ChoiceButterfly bush
科:马钱科
Family:Loganiaceae
属:醉鱼草属
common name:Butterfly bush
introduce:Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
Family: Loganiaceae
Missouri Native: No
Native Range: None
Height: 4 to 5 feet
Spread: 3 to 4 feet
Bloom Time: June - September
Bloom Color: Purple
Sun: Full sun (only)
Water: Medium moisture
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium wet, well-drained soil in full sun. Becomes weedy and sparse with diminished flowering performance if not grown in full sun. Does poorly in wet conditions. In USDA Zone 5, this plant will often die to the ground in winter and therefore is often grown therein in the manner of an herbaceous perennial. Even if plants do not die to the ground in winter, they usually grow more vigorously, produce superior flowers and maintain a better shape if cut to the ground in late winter each year. Removal of spent flower spikes during the growing season will encourage additional bloom, but consider leaving final blooms in place to facilitate reseeding.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
This butterfly bush cultivar is a deciduous shrub with an arching, spreading habit which typically grows 6-8 tall if not cut back in late winter and 4-5 tall if cut back. Features spike-like 4-10" long terminal clusters of purple flowers which bloom from June to September and sometimes to first frost. Flowers are fragrant, and, as the common name suggests, very attractive to butterflies. Willowy gray-green foliage. Popular fresh cut flower. Cultivar name is in reference to Niche Gardens in Chapel Hill, North Carolina who introduced the plant into commerce.
No serious insect or disease problems. Nematodes can be troublesome in the South.
Uses:
Provides valuable summer and early fall flowers when few other shrubs are in bloom. Best grown in massed plantings in borders, cottage gardens, rose gardens or butterfly gardens. Usually does not make a good single specimen shrub.
