Buddleja officinalis
pale butterfly bush
Semi-evergreen to evergreen shrub about 2.5m tall, with dark green leaves, strongly felted grey-white beneath. Pale mauve-pink, yellow-eyed, strongly fragrant flowers produced in arching panicles, through winter into early spring.
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Size
Ultimate height
2.5–4 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
2.5–4 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Purple Pink | Green Grey Silver | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green Grey Silver | |||
| Autumn | Green Grey Silver | |||
| Winter | Purple Pink | Green Grey Silver |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing
Exposure
ShelteredDrought resistance
Yes Hardiness
H3Botanical details
- Family
- Scrophulariaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Semi evergreen
- 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
- W China
How to grow
Cultivation
Needs full sun, well-drained soil and a frost-fee location. Ideal for a large conservatory or greenhouse. Can be grown on a warm, sheltered wall in particularly mild locations. See buddleja cultivation for more detailed advice
Propagation
Root semi-ripe cuttings in summer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Coastal
- Cottage and informal garden
- Mediterranean climate plants
- Sub-tropical
- Conservatory and greenhouse
- Wall side borders
Pruning
Prune back to a framework in spring; pruning group 6
Pests
Susceptible to capsid bug, caterpillars, figwort weevil, mullein moth and glasshouse red spider mite
Diseases
May be susceptible to honey fungus, fungal leaf spot, and virus diseases
Get involved
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