Buddleja nivea
woolly butterfly bush
A vigorous deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub to around 3m high, with an upright habit and woolly young stems. Leaves are long and narrow, and dark green with silvery undersides and serrated edges. Slender clusters of pale purple flowers to 15cm long are produced in late summer
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Size
Ultimate height
2.5–4 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
1.5–2.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green Grey Silver | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Purple | Green Grey Silver | ||
| Autumn | Green Grey Silver | |||
| Winter | Green Grey Silver |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
ShelteredDrought resistance
Yes Hardiness
H5Botanical 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
- Plant range
- China
How to grow
Cultivation
Thrives in a sunny spot with good drainage, will not tolerate excess winter wet. May be evergreen if grown in a warm sheltered spot or overwintered in a cool greenhouse. See buddleja cultivation for more detailed advice
Propagation
Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings in summer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Wildlife gardens
- Gravel garden
- Mediterranean climate plants
- Wall side borders
Pruning
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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