10 buddlejas to grow
Discover 10 beautiful varieties of buddleja to grow, in a range of sizes.
Buddlejas (buddleias) bear attractive conical flowers on an arching bush of silvery foliage in mid- to late summer. Flowers come in a variety of colours including purple, blue, pink and white.
Buddlejas are also known as the butterfly bush, as they are extremely attractive to butterflies. Their nectar-rich flowers coincide with the time when many butterflies are on the wing, and their deep blooms are only accessible to insects with long tongues. As buddleias are often smothered in flowers, butterflies can easily find lots of nectar without having to waste energy by flying somewhere else.
Buddleias are very easy to grow and thrive in almost any situation, but they will attract more butterflies and bees if they are grown in a sunny spot. They can get quite large, so choose a compact variety if you don't have much space.
How to grow buddlieas
Grow buddleia in moist but well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Cut back hard every March to May, to keep them in shape. Cutting back late also promotes late flowering, which is better for butterflies.
More on growing buddleias:
Browse our list of 10 buddlejas to grow, below.
Buddleja davidii ‘Santana’
Buddleja davidii 'Santana' has unusual, lance-shaped variegated leaves, and bears wine-red flowers from July to September.
Height x Spread: 4m x 4m
Buddleja davidii ‘Les Kneale’
Buddleja davidii ‘Les Kneale’ was discovered on the Isle of Man by Les Kneale. Panicles are white with a faint pink blush and the foliage is paler than many other varieties – more a lime green.
H x S: 2m x 2m
Buddleja davidii ‘Persephone’
Buddleja davidii 'Persephone' is a little-known English cultivar of buddleia. It has dense panicles of mauve flowers with deep orange-red eyes, and a good fragrance.
H x S: 1.5m x 1.5m
Buddleja davidii ‘Summer Beauty’
Buddleja davidii ‘Summer Beauty’ is a compact buddleia, bearing masses of fragrant, deep pink flowers. Being smaller than most cultivars of Buddleja davidii, it’s perfect for growing at the front of a mixed herbaceous border.
H x S: 1.5m x 1.5m
Buddleja davidii ‘Buzz Sky Blue’
Buddleja davidii ‘Buzz Sky Blue’ is part of the Buzz series of buddlejas. Plants are compact and easy to grow, and bear masses of deep-blue flowers in late summer.
H x S: 1.2m x 1.2m
Buddleja × weyriana ‘Sungold’
This unusual variety is a cross between Buddleja davidii and Buddleja globosa. Buddleja × weyriana 'Sungold' bears clusters of golden yellow flowers with a strong fragrance. For best results, cut plants back to their base in March.
H x S: 4m x 3m
Buddleja davidii ‘Cotswold Blue’
Buddleja davidii 'Cotswold Blue’ is a new variety, with stunning blue flowers. It forms a smaller shrub than other species such as 'Blue Horizon’.
H x S: 2m x 2m
Buddleja davidii ‘Ile de France’
Buddleja davidii 'Ile de France' bears deep purple flowers from July to September. To encourage later flowering (which benefits garden butterflies such as the small tortoiseshell), cut plants back to the base in May.
H x S: 3.5m x 3.5m
Buddleja davidii ‘Blue Horizon’
Buddleja davidii ‘Blue Horizon’ bears pretty violet-blue flowers from July to October. To encourage later flowering (which benefits garden butterflies such as the small tortoiseshell), cut plants back to the base in May.
H x S: 3m x 3m
Buddleja davidii ‘Orpheus’
Buddleja davidii ‘Orpheus’ has unusual lilac-purple flowers that have a distinctive white circle around an orange eye.
H x S: 3.5m x 3.5m
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