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Buddleja macrostachya
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

large-spiked butterfly bush

A bushy, deciduous shrub, up to 2m tall with lance-shaped, dark green leaves. The panicles of pink or purple flowers have cream and orange centres as they open. Needs a hot summer for singificant flowering, best planted in a sheltered sunny position.

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Size
Ultimate height
1.5–2.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
5–10 years
Ultimate spread
1.5–2.5 metres
Growing conditions
Sand
Chalk
Loam
Clay
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drained
pH
Neutral, Alkaline, Acid
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Purple Pink Green
Autumn Green
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H4
Botanical details
Family
Scrophulariaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus

Buddleja can be evergreen or deciduous shrubs, occasionally trees or scrambling climbers with simple leaves and panicles of small, tubular fragrant flowers

Name status

Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained soil in full sun. See buddleja cultivation for more detailed advice

Propagation

Propagate by hardwood cuttings in autumn, or by semi-hardwood cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

Pruning group 6

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, capsid bugs, caterpillars, earwigs, figwort weevils, glasshouse red spider mite, leaf and bud eelworm, and mullein moth

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus, fungal leaf spot, and virus diseases

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