20 Butterfly Bush Varieties for Blooms From Summer Through Autumn

Butterfly bushes (Buddleja davidii) come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. Also known as summer lilac or orange eye, the butterfly bush is native to central China and Japan, and is widely grown as an ornamental plant.

These fast-growing shrubs get their name from the eye-catching, fragrant flowers they produce, which attract pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds. Butterfly bushes are perennial plants that will bloom from summer through autumn, and can grow between six and 15 feet tall.

Want to attract more butterflies to your yard this year? Here are 20 beautiful butterfly bush varieties to grow in your garden.

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Pink Delight Butterfly Bush

A medium-sized shrub, the pink delight butterfly bush produces an abundance of vibrant pink elongated flowers. Easy-to-grow and a prolific bloomer, it's favored by butterflies and gardeners alike.

• Name: Buddleja davidii 'Pink Delight'

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9

• Flower Color: Bright pink
  

• Light: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, fertile

• Mature Size: 6-8 feet tall, 4-6 feet wide
  

Black Knight Butterfly Bush

This butterfly bush features dark blooms ranging from purple to black, hence its dramatic name.

• Name: Buddleja davidii 'Black Knight'

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9

• Flower Color: Dark purple to black

• Light: Full sun to partial shade

• Soil: Well-drained

• Mature Size: 6-10 feet tall, 5-6 feet wide
  

Empire Blue Butterfly Bush

The empire blue butterfly bush—introduced by Ohio's Good & Reese Nursery in 1941—is a low-maintenance shrub that produces vibrant and fragrant violet flowers.

• Name: Buddleja davidii 'Empire Blue'

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9

• Flower Color: Violet blue

• Light: Full sun, partial shade

• Soil: Well-drained, fertile

• Mature Size: 5 feet tall, 5 feet wide

Adonis Blue Butterfly Bush

The Adonis blue butterfly bush is beloved for its deeply colored blueish flowers and dwarf size. It can also be grown as container plants in milder climates.

• Name: Buddleja davidii 'Adokeep'

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9

• Flower Color: Deep purple to blue

• Light: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, fertile

• Mature Size: 4-5 feet tall, 3-4 feet wide

Petite Snow Butterfly Bush

This easy-to-grow petite shrub has large spikes of white flowers that make a great accent to a range of other plants and flowers in your garden bed.

• Name: Buddleja davidii 'Monite'

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9

• Flower Color: White

• Light: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, fertile

• Mature Size: 4-7 feet tall, 3-9 feet wide

Honeycomb Butterfly Bush

The Honeycomb's creamy-yellow flowers sets it apart from most butterfly bush varieties. Adorned with an orange eye, the blossoms attract butterflies, moths, and other important pollinators.

• Name: Buddleja x weyeriana 'Honeycomb'

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9

• Flower Color: Yellow, gold

• Light: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, fertile

• Mature Size: 5-7 feet tall, 4-5 feet wide

Flutterby Petite Blue Heaven? Butterfly Bush

This compact branching shrub produces showy violet-blue blooms with green-gray foliage. It is also deer resistant.

• Name: Buddleja davidii x 'Podaras #8'

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 10

• Flower Color: Violet-blue

• Light: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained

• Mature Size: 2-3 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide

Pugster Periwinkle? Butterfly Bush

The Pugster? Periwinkle from Proven Winners is a dwarf butterfly bush that offers a compact size with normal-sized and hardy blooms.

• Name: Buddleja davidii 'SMNBDO'

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9

• Flower Color: Purple

• Light: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, fertile

• Mature Size: 2 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide

Pugster White? Butterfly Bush

This compact butterfly bush variety has a dwarf growth habit, meaning it is slow growing and generally do not grow as tall vertically. Its fragrant white flowers and compact size make it a great addition to garden beds around patios or porches.

• Name: Buddleja davidii 'SMNBDW'

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9

• Flower Color: White

• Light: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, fertile

• Mature Size: 2 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide

Pugster Pinker? Butterfly Bush

The Pugster Pinker? butterfly bush offers full-sized pink flowers that have orange centers on a dwarf plant, which are perfect for small yards.

• Name: Buddleja davidii x 'SMNBDB'

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9

• Flower Color: Pink

• Light: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained

• Mature Size: 2 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide

Pugster Blue? Butterfly Bush

This dwarf butterfly bush variety produces blue or blue-purple flowers that have yellow-orange eyes in the center, and is beloved by butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators.

• Name: Buddleja davidii x 'SMNBDBT' 

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9

• Flower Color: Blue, blueish purple

• Light: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, fertile

• Mature Size: 2 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide

Lo and Behold? Blue Chip Jr. Butterfly Bush

The Lo and Behold? Blue Chip Jr. butterfly bush is a space-saving flowering shrub that is resistant to deer, with fragrant and colorful blossoms that will attract butterflies all summer long.

• Name: Buddleja davidii 'Blue Chip Jr.'

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9

• Flower Color: Blue, light purple

• Light: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained

• Mature Size: 1-2.5 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide

Lo and Behold? Pink Micro Chip Butterfly Bush

If you're short on space and want to add a pop of pink in your garden, this compact butterfly bush variety is a great option.

• Name: Buddleja davidii x 'Pink Micro Chip'

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9

• Flower Color: Pink

• Light: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, fertile

• Mature Size: 1.5-2 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide

Prince Charming Butterfly Bush

The bright raspberry-colored hues of the Prince Charming butterfly bush cultivar is a welcome burst of color in any garden.

• Name: Buddleja davidii 'Prince Charming'

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9

• Flower Color: Pink to red

• Light: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, fertile

• Mature Size: 3-4 feet tall, 3-4 feet wide

Miss Violet Butterfly Bush

Aptly named for its vibrant violet flowers, the Miss Flower butterfly bush is a compact and prolific bloomer.

• Name: Buddleja davidii 'Miss Violet'

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9

• Flower Color: Dark purple, violet

• Light: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained

• Mature Size: 4-5 feet tall, 4-5 feet wide

Miss Molly Butterfly Bush

Like its sister Miss Violet, the Miss Molly butterfly bush variety has intensely colored flowers that are as attractive to pollinators as they are to the human eye.

• Name: Buddleja davidii 'Miss Molly'

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9

• Flower Color: Deep pink to red

• Light: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, fertile

• Mature Size: 4-5 feet tall, 4-5 feet wide

Queen of Hearts Butterfly Bush

The magenta-hued flowers on the queen of hearts butterfly bush can grow to seven to nine inches in length, making them a great addition to any flower garden or bouquet.

• Name: Buddleja davidii 'Queen of Hearts'

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9

• Flower Color: Magenta, pink, red

• Light: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained

• Mature Size: 2-3 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide

Nanho Purple Butterfly Bush

The Nanho purple cultivar features densely-packed and fragrant purple flowers on a compact plant. In addition to butterflies, the flowers attract hummingbirds and bees.

• Name: Buddleja davidii 'Monum'

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9

• Flower Color: Purple

• Light: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, fertile

• Mature Size: 3-5 feet tall, 3-5 feet wide

White Profusion Butterfly Bush

A vigorous and easy-to-grow shrub, the white profusion butterfly bush variety has bright white flowers with silvery undertones. Add it to your cottage garden or butterfly garden for a sophisticated look.

• Name: Buddleja davidii 'White Profusion'

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9

• Flower Color: White

• Light: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, fertile

• Mature Size: 6-12 feet tall, 4-15 feet wide

Sungold Butterfly Bush

Add a burst of sunshine in your garden with the sungold butterfly bush, which produces gold-yellow flowers. Because it can grow as tall as 15 feet tall, you can plant several along your property line to act as a privacy shrub.

• Name: Buddleja × weyeriana 'Sungold

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 11

• Flower Color: Yellow, gold

• Light: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, fertile

• Mature Size: 8-15 feet tall, 4-10 feet wide

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most hardy butterfly bush?

The Pugster? series of butterfly bushes—including Pugster? Periwinkle, Pugster? White Dwarf, Pugster? Pinker, and Pugster? Blue butterfly bushes—were bred specifically for hardiness. Their compact size and thicker, sturdier stems ensure better winter hardiness and the plants still produce full-sized flowers.

Where is the best place to plant butterfly bush?

Butterfly bushes grows well in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil in a full sun location. If planting more than one, space them at least five to six feet apart.

What is the most common butterfly bush?

The term 'butterfly bush' refers to more than 140 species in the Buddleja or Buddleia genus, the most popular of which is Buddleia davidii, are a popular choice for landscapes.

Read Next: How to Create a Butterfly Garden

Read the original article on The Spruce.