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Perennials, Woody > Buddleja > Buddleja davidii > Buddleja davidii

Buddleja davidii


Butterfly Bush




Origin:  Buddleia davidii is native to central and western China and was first discovered by the French missionary and botanist Abbè Armand David in 1869, however it was not introduced into cultivation until 1904. Seed was sent to England by the famous plant collector E. H. Wilson to Veitch Nurseries. Since it is quite a hardy plant it was quick to establish, to the point that today it has become an invasive species.
            Mike's Opinion

this is Mike

"

The Buddleia davidii group includes many cultivars each with its own merits. As a species they prefer lean soils and positive drainage, and if happy they will self-seed. I frequently have many seedlings popping up in the gravel driveway each summer, and will leave the odd one to see what happens. In severe winters the plants may experience winter dieback where the plants may fail to re-sprout in the spring. They are perennial, but if treated as an annual you will not be disappointed if they fail over the winter. That said, I have not lost one in the garden for the past six years. This is considered a invasive plant in some areas, so use with caution where cold winters may leave them unchecked.



Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)

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Family
Scrophulariaceae
Genus
Buddleja
Species
davidii
Category
Perennials, Woody
Type
Shrub (deciduous)
Synonyms
Buddleia
Pronunciation
USDA Hardiness Zone
5
Canadian Hardiness Zone
4 - 6a
RHS Hardiness Zone
H7
Temperature (°C)
-29 - (-23)
Temperature (°F)
-20 - (-10)
Height
5 m
Spread
5 m
Photographs
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
JuneJulyAugustSeptember
General Description
A somewhat ungainly shrub that is very attractive in flower but not so when out of bloom.
Landscape
Cottage gardens and drought resistant borders.
Cultivation
Easy to grow on positive, well drained, lean soils. Should only be pruned after new growth emerges in the spring.
Shape
Large unkempt shrub.
Growth
Fast
ID Characteristic
Identified by their large panicles and the end of the branches.
Pests
Occasionally aphids.
Habitat
Thickets on mountain slopes, limestone outcrops, forest clearing, and rocky stream banks.
Bark/Stem Description
Light beige, somewhat papery in texture, many stems usually not exceeding 10cm in diameter.
Flower/Leaf Bud Description
Naked, 2 scaled, greyish brown, pubescent.
Leaf Description
Opposite, simple, ovate-lanceolate 10-25m long, acuminate, closely serrate.
Flower Description
Perfect, usually lavender, 4 petaled, fragrant.
Colour Description
Grey green leaves appear in late spring and are retained until late autumn.
Texture Description
Medium.
Notable Specimens
Great Flat Lode, Redruth, United Kingdom.
Propagation
Seed requires no pretreatment, cuttings collected from May to June root easily, winter hardwood cuttings can be rooted. I have noticed in my gravel drive that there are many seedlings each year that require execution.
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