Buddleja davidii 'ADONIS BLUE' butterfly bush
size/type
medium-sized shrub,medium-sized shrub
usual height
1-1,5m
usual width
1-1,5m
leaves
deciduous broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
showy
colour of flowers
blooming time
July-September
location
full sun
soil type
any (acidic to alkaline)
soil moisture requirements
evenly moist (dislikes drought)
USDA zone (lowest)
5b (down to -27°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Buddleia is better known as butterfly bush. The reason is obvious – from early summer when it starts blooming until early autumn it produces large, scented flowers that attract winged insects, mostly butterflies. If you are not yet aware of how many butterfly species you can get in your part of the world get one buddleia and in a few weeks you can apply for a doctor’s degree in butterflies!
Description of the plant:
Adonis was very handsome which is why this butterfly bush has his name – Adonis Blue. The flowers are deep indigo blue and violet with orange throat. The inflorescence may look like lilac hence its other name: summer lilac. However, it can get misleading as summer lilac is more often used for lagerstroemia.Deciduous leaves are lanceolate, pale green to almost blue-green, and slightly hairy. The shrub is upright growing and more compact than older varieties though it does make arching branches when enriched with heavy flowers. We strongly recommend hard pruning every spring to low permanent framework as buds begin to swell.
Butterfly bush requires little care. Plant it in full sun, in well-drained humus-rich soil. It will die in boggy soil after winter. Though hardy to -27°C (USDA zone 5b) it performs better in warmer zones.
We suggest buying older plants with woody framework for planting in colder areas.
Last update 03-07-2013
WANT TO TRY A SIMILAR PLANT?
