Attract Butterflies & Hummingbirds with Butterfly Bush

Butterfly Bush: Ultimate Pollinator Magnet

Attract butterflies/hummingbirds by planting what they love. Butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) is a top magnet. Technically a shrub but dies to ground yearly like a perennial. Best in USDA zones 5-10 (won't survive winter in lower zones).

Varieties & Characteristics

6-12 ft tall, 15 ft spread. Fountain-like with slender arching branches. Silver-green to dark-green leaves. Long cone-like flower heads of tiny tube-shaped flowers. Blooms early summer through frost.

Popular Cultivars

'Black Knight': dark purple, 72". 'Nanho Blue': deep blue, 60". 'Royal Red': magenta, 96". Unusual: 'Harlequin' (variegated foliage, magenta, 72"), 'Butterfly Hybrids' (white/pink/purple mix, 60").

Growing Requirements

Well-drained soil, full sun (also attracts butterflies—they need sun for body warmth). Water thoroughly at planting. Drought-tolerant once established. Cold zones: mulch after first hard freeze. Don't cut old wood until spring (root crown protection). Warm zones: prune ⅓ in early spring. Slow spring emergence—don't panic! Deadhead spent blooms for more flowers.

Design Placement

Single specimen or mass groupings. Back of garden (height = backdrop). More bushes = more butterflies!