Reading Eagle: Good golly, Miss Molly sure is a beautiful butterfly bush Buddleja species, especially Buddleja davidii and interspecific hybrids, are commonly known as butterfly bushes and are frequently cultivated as garden shrubs. [5] In this guide, we’ll help you plant, grow, prune, and responsibly care for Buddleja—so you can enjoy its beauty while being a smart steward of your garden. Also called “summer lilacs,” butterfly bushes (Buddleia davidii) are hardy to Zone 5 and remain evergreen from Zone 8 south.

Understanding the Context

The genus, Buddleja, includes 111 species of shrubs and trees native to Tropical and Subtropical America, Northeast and South Africa, Madagascar, and Asia. Plants in this genus are often found along river banks, roadsides, forest margins, and other disturbed areas. Find out how to grow buddleja, including choosing, planting, watering, pruning and propagating. To plant or not to plant has been the question surrounding butterfly bush (Buddleia or Buddleja davidii) for years.

Key Insights

Its many blossoms, although irresistible to butterflies, can lead to aggressive re-seeding. Learn how to plant, grow, and prune Buddleja (Butterfly Bush). This guide covers sun needs, drainage, deadheading, hard pruning techniques, and its role as a pollinator magnet. Butterfly bushes, belonging to the Buddleja genus, are deciduous or semi-evergreen shrubs celebrated for their vibrant, fragrant flower spikes that bloom from summer to fall.