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Buddleja davidii 'Purple Prince'
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

butterfly bush 'Purple Prince'

A deciduous, bushy shrub to around 2m high, with an upright, arching habit, and lance-shaped green leaves with silvery undersides. Long clusters of scented purple flowers are produced at the tips of the stems from summer into autumn

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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
Chalk
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green Grey Silver
Summer Purple Green Grey Silver
Autumn Purple Green Grey Silver
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H6
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

Unresolved

How to grow

Cultivation

Thrives in a sunny, well-drained situation, though will tolerate partial shade. Protect from strong winds and excess winter wet. See buddleja cultivation for more detailed advice

Propagation

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

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

Pruning group 6; can be cut back to a low framework in early spring. Deadhead after flowering

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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