The butterfly bush, botanically known as Buddleja, has a good reason for its beautiful German name: the shrub, which usually blooms wonderfully in blue, violet or pink tones, is a magnet for numerous butterflies that feel attracted by the sweet nectar. Its abundance of flowers is also the reason why the tree, sometimes referred to as summer lilac, is often planted in the garden. Despite an undeniable visual similarity, Buddleja is not related to the common lilac (bot. Syringa).

The butterfly bush comes in many different colors

Table of Contents

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  1. origin and distribution
  2. use
  3. appearance and growth
  4. flowers and flowering time
  5. toxicity
  6. Which location is suitable?
  7. substrate / soil
  8. pot culture
  9. Plant butterfly bushes correctly
  10. What is the best planting time?
  11. The right planting distance
  12. subplants
  13. How do I plant correctly?
  14. Watering butterfly bushes
  15. Fertilize butterfly bushes properly
  16. Properly cut butterfly bushes
  17. Propagating butterfly bushes
  18. diseases and pests
  19. species and varieties

    20. origin and distribution

    The butterfly bush belongs to the figwort family (Scrophlariacae) and includes around 100 different species. These are widespread in the tropical and subtropical areas of the two American continents as well as Asia and Africa, where they mainly occur in dry, warm and sunny locations. By no means all species are used as ornamental plants, especially since the majority of summer lilacs in this country are not hardy at all. Incidentally, the Buddleja species are not related to the common lilac, despite the existing similarity. Botanically speaking, it belongs to the olive tree family (Oleaceae).

    use

    The quite robust and sufficiently hardy species Buddleja davidii, which also has the greatest diversity of varieties of all butterfly bushes, is particularly popular for the home garden. In addition, the change-leaved or Chinese butterfly bush (Buddleja alternifolia) is used in borders and in the front garden, whereas the distinctive yellow summer bush (Buddleja x weyeriana) is not frost hardy and can therefore only be outdoors in regions with mild winters. However, all the butterfly bushes mentioned are ideal for pot culture, provided the variety is not too fast-growing.

    The butterfly bush cuts a fine figure both in colorful herbaceous borders, in a bed with colorful summer flowers, along dry slopes and as a solitaire in the front yard. Strong-growing varieties with growth heights of up to three meters and widths of up to two meters can also be used wonderfully for hedge planting and for delimiting properties and garden rooms.

    Plant the shrub together with annual flowers, perennials such as sedum or asters, bulb flowers or herbs such as sage, lavender or thyme. It is not only important that the colors harmonize with each other when putting together the plants for the borders, but that the different species have the same needs in terms of location and care.

    appearance and growth

    Buddleja davidii in particular is very well suited to the Central European climate with its sometimes cold and harsh winters. The species also scores with numerous cultivated forms in different growth heights and flower colors. Butterfly bushes usually grow funnel-shaped and wide upright up to three meters in height, with some varieties having a rather squat habit and only up to one and a half meters high. The panicle-like flowers are located at the end of the side shoots, which often bend due to their weight.

    The shoots of Buddleja davidii often freeze back in cold winters, but this is not usually a problem. As long as the root network remains undamaged, the shrub will sprout again in spring and, thanks to its very rapid growth, will quickly return to the previous year's height. The species is evergreen, i. H. the green-grey leaves usually remain on the branches until the first frost and only then die off.

    flowers and flowering time

    Most species and varieties of butterfly bushes do not show their lush flowers until July, but then - at least with appropriate care - well into autumn. The long spikes of flowers are so heavy that the branches bend under their weight. Depending on the variety, they also smell more or less strongly, and the selection of flower colors is very large. The panicles bloom in different white, pink, red or violet tones, only yellow colors are reserved for the non-hardy yellow butterfly bush.

    In order to be able to enjoy the flowering period for as long as possible, you should cut off faded shoots as soon as possible. At the same time you prevent the formation of the capsule fruits, which often contain numerous seeds. If you are not careful, they will sow themselves and you will have to remove young buddleia from the whole garden the following year.

    toxicity

    Even if all sorts of butterflies like to feast on the sweet nectar of the butterfly bush, unfortunately all parts of the plant are poisonous to people and pets. The leaves and seeds in particular contain toxic substances, including saponins and glycosides such as catapol and aucubin. Therefore, never feed the clippings to your pets, including cattle or horses, and make sure that small children do not nibble on the leaves or flowers. If symptoms of poisoning occur, such as headaches, nausea, cramps, diarrhea and/or vomiting (not everything has to happen at once!), please consult a doctor or veterinarian immediately.

    However, healthy plant parts can be composted without hesitation.

    Which location is suitable?

    Since the butterfly bush comes from warm and sun-drenched countries, it also feels particularly comfortable in the garden in the same location. The summer lilac likes a hot location with full sun during the midday hours, which is why you can plant it on a bright south-facing wall with peace of mind. Place the shrub in a sheltered spot in full sun, although if necessary a spot in bright partial shade will suffice. However, it is important that the Buddleja gets a few hours of direct sun in the morning and evening. But if it is too shady, the butterfly bush will stop growing and will not produce any flowers.
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    substrate / soil

    The ideal soil for the Buddleia is well-drained, loose and only moderately rich in nutrients. The shrub likes to stand in a lean and gritty substrate. On the other hand, the plant does not tolerate loamy, heavy and waterlogged soil, which is why you should improve the soil when planting by adding compost and gravel/sand if necessary and also ensure drainage. In this way, waterlogging cannot occur in the first place.

    pot culture

    Frost-sensitive species of butterfly bushes such as Buddleja globosa or Buddleja x weyeriana should be cultivated in large tubs if possible and not planted out in the garden. Dwarf variants of Buddleja davidii and other hardy buddleia species can also be cultivated very well in planters, provided the bucket selected is large enough and offers plenty of space for the roots.

    The so-called dwarf butterfly bushes such as 'Summer Lounge' or 'Purple Emperor' are particularly suitable for this. They reach heights of growth of up to about 150 centimeters and therefore also fit on narrow balconies. However, the following applies to all butterfly bushes: Choose a large, wide and deep ceramic or clay planter. This offers the roots plenty of space and at the same time prevents the inside from heating up due to possible evaporation. Because the butterfly bush likes sun and warmth, but thrives best with roots that are kept cool.

    Fill in the potting compost mixed with gravel and clay pebbles (€19.73), of course not forgetting the pot drainage: the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot is mandatory so that excess water can drain away. The butterfly bush must be fertilized and watered regularly so that it neither dries out nor is permanently wet with its roots. Between April and August you also provide the shrub with a liquid container plant fertilizer, which you only have to dose lightly. The nutrient requirement of the butterfly bush is only low. During the winter months, only little is poured, little fertilized and the plant also hibernates in a cool and bright room, frost-free if possible.

    Plant butterfly bushes correctly

    Buddleia is often grown and offered in containers. When planting these specimens, you should make sure not to plant them deeper in the garden than they were in the pot beforehand. If necessary, mark the appropriate spot with a pen.

    Proceed as follows when planting Buddleja:

    • Lift the plant out of the container, shaking off the soil.
    • Now place them with the root ball in a bucket filled with water.
    • Let them soak up the moisture.
    • In the meantime, dig a planting hole.
    • This should be twice as deep and wide as the root ball.
    • Place a drainage layer about five centimeters thick on the bottom of the planting hole, e.g. B. with coarse gravel.
    • Mix the excavation with plenty of compost and possibly gravel/sand.
    • Plant the butterfly bush. Gently tread down the earth.
    • Mash the root area well.

    To prevent premature drying out due to evaporation, especially in hot and dry times, you can cover the area around the roots with bark mulch or another material.
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    What is the best planting time?

    All types and varieties of butterfly bushes should only be planted in the garden after the ice saints in May. It is ideal when the ground has warmed up a bit and there are no more night frosts. Now the shrub can grow safely until the first frost.

    The right planting distance

    Above all, the varieties of the species Buddleja davidii can take up a lot of space with a height of about three meters and a width of up to two meters - especially since the shrubs also grow very quickly and a planting distance that is too narrow can quickly become a problem. Solitaires should be planted at least 150 centimeters apart, while for hedges and groups between 80 and 100 centimeters are sufficient, depending on the variety. The dwarf variants require significantly less space for themselves.

    subplants

    Since the buddleia often remains bare in the lower part, you can plant it well with annual summer flowers, bulb flowers or low-growing perennials.

    How do I plant correctly?

    In May or June, if necessary also in early autumn, the butterfly bush can usually be moved to a new location without any problems. Only in the middle of summer should you refrain from transplanting, because the shrub can quickly suffer from a lack of water due to the inevitable loss of roots. Incidentally, this is also the reason why plants to be transplanted always have to be cut back. And that's how it works:

    • Cut back the buddleia by about a third.
    • Tie the shoots together at the top with a ribbon or something similar.
    • Be careful not to crush or injure the branches.
    • Dig a trench around the bush with a sharp spade.
    • Cut through longer roots.
    • Loosen the root ball with a digging fork.
    • Carefully lift out the whole plant.
    • Reinstall them in a new location.
    • Water it copiously to help it grow.
    • Increased watering is also important in the weeks after transplanting.

    Incidentally, you should also mix the excavation from the planting hole with plenty of compost.
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    Watering butterfly bushes

    Even if freshly planted buddleia need to be watered well every now and then so that it grows better and does not get into drought stress until then, specimens that have already established themselves at their location only very rarely need water from the garden hose or watering can. You can only water it if it has been warm and dry for a long period of time and/or the shrub is showing signs of it. Buddleja kept in tubs, on the other hand, depend on a regular supply of the precious water, as they are not able to do this themselves. In any case, avoid waterlogging, as this inevitably leads to root rot.

    Since the butterfly bush is very tolerant of lime, you can water it with water from the tap without hesitation.

    Fertilize butterfly bushes properly

    Not only in terms of water, but also in terms of nutrient supply, the butterfly bush is quite undemanding. When planting and always after pruning, provide shrubs that have been planted out with plenty of compost and a handful of horn shavings (32.93€) to stimulate subsequent new growth. If the Buddleja does not want to get into a blooming mood, a lack of nutrients can be the cause. Eliminate this with a liquid universal fertilizer or with the more frequent supply of compost or stable manure. Butterfly bushes that are only kept in planters must be given a liquid fertilizer for potted plants together with the irrigation water at intervals of about two weeks.
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    Properly cut butterfly bushes

    Any pruning measures in the butterfly bush always depend on the respective species and variety. Buddleja davidii, for example, only develops flowers on the new shoots and should therefore be cut back drastically in spring: the gardener calls this "putting on the stick". Cut all parts of the plant to a height of 20 to 30 centimeters above the ground, although this measure will probably be necessary after most winters anyway: the species often freezes back in frosty temperatures. If possible, do this pruning in March, but no later than April.

    Other types of butterfly bushes, such as the Chinese summer lilac Buddleja alternifolia, should not be pruned so much. You simply thin out these species after flowering by cutting off branches that are too close together and have dried out. However, be careful not to cut any new shoots, because the species will bloom on them in the coming year.

    No matter what kind of butterfly bush it is, you should always cut back faded shoots. In this way, the shrub does not put its energy into developing fruit and seeds, but instead sets new flowers.
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    Propagating butterfly bushes

    If you particularly like a particular butterfly bush, you should always propagate it using cuttings. Only in this way are the offspring really pure and have the same characteristics as the mother plant - after all, it is in principle a genetically identical clone. You can achieve the same effect if you plant lowers instead of cuttings or take cuttings from the cuttings. The vegetative way of propagation works without any problems with the buddleia according to this scheme:

    • The best time to cut the cuttings is June and July.
    • Choose young, semi-lignified branches with no developed flowers for this purpose.
    • Entirely woody twigs are not suitable for cuttings, but they are suitable for cuttings.
    • Cuttings are ideally 10 to 15 centimeters long.
    • Remove all but the top 2-3 leaves.
    • Cut them in half so that not too much water evaporates via the leaves.
    • Place the cuttings separately in pots with lean growth substrate.
    • Always keep this slightly moist, but it must not be dripping wet.
    • Throw on a translucent covering to improvise a mini greenhouse.
    • Cling film or a cut-off PET bottle are suitable for this purpose.
    • Now place the pot in a bright and warm place without direct sunlight.
    • Don't forget: ventilate every day!

    You can finally remove the protective cover when the cuttings develop the first new shoots. However, keep the young butterfly bushes frost-free for the first winter, but cool and light, and only plant them out in the coming spring.

    Do you like surprises? Then sow the Buddleja seeds you have collected or bought yourself, sow them and see if a new variety comes out of it.
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    diseases and pests

    The butterfly bush is a very robust plant that is rarely attacked by pathogens or pests. If problems do occur, they are usually due to mistakes in care or the plant does not feel comfortable in its location. If Buddleja develops yellow leaves, this is usually an indication of excessive watering or even waterlogging. This is quickly shown by wilting and drying up of individual shoots and later several shoots.

    tips

    Even the basically hardy variants of the species Buddleja davidii need a little winter protection as young plants, for example in the form of a covering of leaves or brushwood on the root disc. On the other hand, simply cut back frozen above-ground parts of the plant vigorously in the spring, and the plant will sprout again very quickly.

    species and varieties

    The greatest diversity of varieties can be found in the popular Buddleja species B. davidii, whose numerous variants look very different in terms of growth and color. For example, these cultivated forms are pretty for the home garden:

    • 'Adonis Blue': dark blue, very beautiful flower colour
    • 'African Queen': violet-blue flower spikes, bright colour
    • 'Black Knight': dark violet flower spikes, very dark colour
    • 'Cardinal': bright deep pink flower spikes
    • 'Empire Blue' blue-violet, light flower colour
    • 'Pink Delight': bright light pink flower panicles
    • 'Purple Emperor': purple-red, rather dark flower panicles
    • 'White Bouquet': bright pure white flower colour

    The only yellow flowering Buddleia is the 'Sungold' cultivar of Yellow Buddleia (Buddleja x weyeriana).

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Animals in the garden