Butterfly Bush
Also known as: Buddleja · Buddleia · Summer Lilac
Invasive — please don't plant
3 types of butterfly bush
Orange Butterfly Bush
N/Aalso: Buddleja globosa, Orange-ball-tree
Round orange flower balls beloved by hummingbirds and butterflies.
Orange Eye Butterflybush
N/Aalso: Buddleja davidii, Butterfly Bush, Summer Lilac
The classic garden butterfly bush — long fragrant spikes in purple, pink, or white.
White Butterfly Bush
N/Aalso: Buddleja asiatica, Dogtail
Elongated white flower spikes, sweet fragrance. More tropical species.
When & where
Germination
Spacing & depth
How to plant
Invasive in much of North America — please don't plant it. This page is here so you can identify it and choose a native alternative. Surface-sow on moist seed mix and press in gently. Cold-stratify 4 weeks, then move to warmth and bright light. Transplant after last frost into well-drained soil.
Pre-sow treatment
30 days cold moist stratification improves germination.
Grower's tip
Invasive in much of North America — please don't plant it. This page is here so you can identify it and choose a native alternative. A butterfly magnet, but some species are invasive in certain regions — choose sterile cultivars or deadhead faithfully to prevent spread.
Woody plant facts
Good to know before you grow this
Can spread aggressively and is invasive in some regions — check your local invasive-species list before planting.
Soil preferences
Free-draining garden soil. Most shrubs fail from wet feet, not poor fertility.
5.5–7.0 for most; acid-lovers (rhododendron, blueberry) want 4.5–5.5.
Mulch a wide ring with compost or bark each spring; keep mulch off the stems.
Watering
Deep soak weekly for the first two seasons, then only in drought.
Slow soak over the root zone, not the crown.
Overwatered: yellowing leaves, dieback, sour soil. Underwatered: leaf scorch, early leaf drop, sparse bloom.
Prefers top-watering — Top-water only — deep slow soak at the drip line, never at the trunk. Bottom-watering is only for tree seedlings in nursery pots (shallow tray 15 min). Established trees always get watered from above onto the soil.
Temperature tolerance
Broad — hardy shrubs handle 35–90°F once established
Down to the species' rated zone minimum
Hardy once established; first-winter seedlings need a mulch collar or cold frame.
Special germination requirements
Most temperate tree seed needs cold stratification (30–120+ days at 34–41°F) — see each species entry for the exact time.
Container growing
Possible with the right cultivar
10–20 gal (38–76 L) for a long-term potted shrub
Dwarf and compact forms do fine in large pots; full-size shrubs eventually need the ground.
Detailed harvesting
Prune rather than harvest — take out dead, damaged and crossing stems, and cut spring bloomers right after flowering so you don't remove next year's buds.
Post-harvest storage & preservation
Not applicable — this is a permanent planting.
Culinary, medicinal & other uses
Structure, hedging, screening, wildlife cover and season-long flower or berry interest.
Medicinal or traditional uses are shared for interest only — this is not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before using any plant medicinally.
Seed saving
Mostly insect-pollinated; seedlings vary from the parent.
Not practical. Named cultivars must be grown from cuttings, not seed.
Collect ripe seed or clean berries in fall, then cold-stratify before spring sowing.
Your zone's planting calendar
Pick your USDA hardiness zone and we'll estimate the key dates for butterfly bush in your area. These are regional averages — always check your own last-frost forecast before sowing.
My Butterfly Bush notes
Butterfly Bush seeds on hand
Track packets and loose seeds you already have. Private to your account.
Par level — leave at 0 for no alert. Anything below par shows on Seed Starting and your shopping list.
Order more seeds
Running low? Reorder from one of these seed stores.
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