It has proven invasive on both U.S. coasts. patula 'Miss Kim') Why it's a standout: Adored for its rafts of decadently fragrant, lavender-pink flowers, 'Miss Kim' blooms on the cusp of summer (later than most lilacs), making it an excellent substitute for butterfly bush. Perhaps yours will too. This plant can be weedy or invasive according to the authoritative sources noted below.This plant may be known by one or more common names in different places, and some are listed above. Seems you can have your butterfly bush and plant it, too. Award-winning Buddleja davidii 'Pink Delight' (Butterfly Bush) is a medium-sized deciduous shrub with gracefully arching branches, studded with lance-shaped, gray-green leaves with white-felted undersides, and sweetly scented, slender panicles of bright pink flowers. This is a plant from Asia, and now it’s … Is Butterfly Bush an Invasive Species? Remove winter-killed branches to the ground in spring. This deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub typically grows from 6 to 10 feet tall by 4 to 10 feet wide with a rather open, arching form. https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/attracting-butterflies-to-the-garden-5-504-2/, https://www.almanac.com/plant/butterfly-bush.      = Water three days per week, or more.Â. Invasive Buddleia (Butterfly Bush) I’m sure you’ve all read books about butterfly gardening, and almost every one of them recommends Butterfly Bush (Budleia spp). In fact, it’s a good alternative to butterfly bush, which can crowd out native plants that are important for wildlife. Ream J, 2006. Butterfly bush is an invasive plant, meaning it crowds out beneficial plants that have naturally grown in your community for centuries. Adult butterflies also feed on fluids such as nectar from flowers. New cultivars are available in a variety of colors with blooms ranging from deep purple and bright fuchsia to flowers of creamy yellow and white. A superb, easily-grown Butterfly Bush … The cons: butterfly bush readily escapes cultivation and invades natural areas, crowding out native plants; what’s more, butterfly bush … Butterfly bush, a native of China, seemingly has it all. Use the plant water needs as a guideline. Characteristics: About 100 species of shrubs and small trees, deciduous or evergreen (deciduous in Oregon), square stems & mostly opposite leaves. Buddleja × weyeriana 'Honeycomb' (Butterfly Bush) is a deciduous shrub with gracefully arching branches, studded with lance-shaped, gray-green leaves and sweetly scented, globular clusters of creamy-yellow flowers. They have often died back part way over the winter. It has escaped cultivation in scattered locations in the Northeast, Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, and in the western U.S. from southern California to northern … The butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) is a beautiful, fast-growing, deciduous shrub with masses of blossoms—long, spiked trusses—that bloom from summer to autumn. Butterfly bushes have long been a favorite summer-blooming shrub in American gardens, cherished for their long-lasting, pointed, cone-shaped, purple flowers as well as their ability to draw butterflies. Be careful of the argument that a plant is not yet invasive in your area. Origin: Native to East Asia and South America. Verloove, F. (2006) Catalogue of the Neophytes in … They're all still potentially invasive unless you're quick with your pruners after they bloom. Borne at the tips of current year's growth, the huge flower spikes, up to 15 in. The sole purpose of the issue is to provide lots of food for thought, similar to the overload of nectar provided by the butterfly bush itself. Buddleia is indigenous to East Asia. The Invasive Buddleja davidii (Butterfly Bush).   = Water twice per month or less, once established. Common: Seedless Butterfly Bush, Nectar Bush, Summer Lilac (formerly known as Butterfly Bush). Butterfly weed blooms with bright orange flowers that are attractive to butterflies and humans alike. Since its introduction to the United Kingdom from China in the late 1800s, B. davidii has become an important component in horticulture and human culture. The pros: butterflies love the long panicles of bright flowers on the butterfly bush and the shrubs are very easy to grow. In a sunny, protected location, butterfly bush can be a good choice. Your third option is to not plant butterfly bush at all, but instead, plant a native species like orange woolly butterfly bush or Utah butterfly bush, both of which grow in warmer regions. Flo.Wer vzw.    = Water about once per week, once established. DOI 10.1007/s12229-009-9033-0. Rehder A, 1927. All species listed are invasive per the Federal Executive Order 13751, Safeguarding the Nation from the Impacts of Invasive Species (definitions are below). Adjust your watering schedule as needed to meet the plants' needs at your site. It also is common along riverbanks and river gravel bars where it out-competes native plants and alters soil nutrients. Butterfly bush or Buddleja davidii may look beautiful in your yard and it’s nectar will attract adult butterflies but it won’t create a sustainable habitat for butterflies or other species in your yard. It is … Amanda,Here are two interesting links for you with some great information about attracting butterflies in Colorado and butterfly bushes: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/attracting-butterflies-to-the-garden-5-504-2/https://www.almanac.com/plant/butterfly-bushButterfly bushes are not considered invasive in Colorado. "Butterfly bush" is the common name for the Buddleia species of flowering shrub, and it is the perfect plant to compliment the annual and perennial flowers in your butterfly garden. The butterfly bush is a perennial, woody shrub with purple flowers. It is not invasive everywhere, but it is invasive in many areas, such as the Pacific Northwest; ask your local Cooperative Extension if in doubt. Their stock included many kinds of Butterfly Bush. The Darker Side of Butterfly Bush Although Butterfly bush is a beautiful plant some states, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Kentucky, Virginia, and Delaware, have begun to list it as potentially invasive. Summer flowers in clusters are white, apricot, orange, pink, red, lavender or purple. We have one in our yard and we trim the dead branches every year almost to the ground and it comes back nice and healthy without invading any other space in our garden. Butterfly bush is growing at the Cottonwood Creek Garden and has been planted in a low water zone of the Mesa Garden for many years. Species are ranked based on their invasiveness in Indiana. Maybe not in small backyard gardens, but birds carry off the seed to the point that it's popping up in unmanaged fields and roadside areas. butterfly bush. Corvallis, USA: Oregon State University. Like many plants from China and countries in that region, the typical Buddleia grown in certain parts of North America has acted in an invasive manner. Species ranked high are either regulated and prohibited from trade or will be evaluated for potential inclusion as a state regulated species … Corvallis, USA: Oregon State University. Bot. long (37 cm), are on display from mid … These hybrids produce so little seed (less than 2% of traditional butterfly bushes), they are considered non-invasive varieties. Many wonderful writers have helped shape and write … Over the years I have watched butterfly bush spread from roadsides along Rt. Official IISC Invasive Plant List. Flowers can be white, pink, blue or purple depending on the cultivar, each with a deep orange center.Â. It is a very popular ornamental plant, often found in gardens. It has sometimes suffered dieback in exposed sites in the Colorado Springs area, so it needs a protected location to thrive. Unfortunately, the Butterfly bush has escaped cultivation in southern BC and is now considered an invasive species. the butterfly bush (however you choose to name or spell it). Van Landuyt, W., Hoste, I., Vanhecke, L., Van den Bremt, P. Vercruysse, W. & De Beer, D. (2006) Atlas van de Flora van Vlaanderen en het Brussels gewest. 83 to ditches behind a local mall, to open areas along our popular rail trail. Butterfly Bush, Buddleja is a thankful summer bloomer, which grows as a shrub or half shrub, rarely as a tree or vine. The scent is very attractive to bees and butterflies. Size, form … Thanks for your help! Leaves are opposite, 3 to 5 inches long by 1 to 3 inches wide, varying from deep green to gray-green to silvery-gray. Surprising to most people, butterfly bush has been classified as an invasive species in most U.S. regions, crowding out beneficial native plants essential to wildlife. Blue Chip: A Noninvasive Butterfly Bush . The leaves of some cultivars are densely hairy underneath. Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii) Photo: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org. See pictures of the best non-invasive butterfly bushes including ‘Miss Molly’ and the Lo and Behold series, plus find alternatives for ‘Black Knight’. Butterfly bushes are not considered invasive in Colorado. Spreading rapidly by wind-born seed, the butterfly bush displaces native vegetation in disturbed, open areas and along coastal forest edges, roadsides, and especially on sunny stream sides and riverbanks. I read recently that butterfly bushes are considered invasive in some places.     = Water about twice per week, once established. The most popular variety is the Buddleja davidii, whereas the … I previously lived in Columbus, OH, and my butterfly bushes there didn’t try to spread or send out new sprouts. All rights reserved. Butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) is a deciduous shrub with an arching habit and impressive flowers, but it has a mixed reputation. Production and invasion of Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) in Oregon. Is Butterfly Bush ( Buddleia) invasive in Colorado? I am concerned this Bush will invade, but the nursery staff could not answer my concerns. Hello, I’ve recently moved to Parker, CO, and I’ve begun a small butterfly flower garden. Both emit an irresistible scent. Life cycle/information: Butterfly bush, also called summer lilac, is a deciduous shrub bearing wands of purple, pink, or white flowers at the branch tips from summer to fall. Actual plant water needs will vary for several reasons, including weather conditions, soil type, sun exposure, root depth, wind and elevation. Butterfly bush is drought-tolerant, and is a colorful addition to gardens and landscapes. Luckily, in cooler climates it’s easy to contain if gardeners deadhead the flowers before it sets volunteering seeds. There are pros and cons to growing butterfly bushes in the landscape. Its flowers come in many colors, though butterflies seem to prefer the lavender-pink (mauve) of the species to the white and dark purple cultivars. Their stems are square in cross-section, and young shoots are covered by dense, white hairs. Is this true in Colorado? Amanda Zimmer. The butterfly bush can reach growth heights of up to 500 cm and grow 300 cm onto the sides, due to branching. Production and invasion of Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) in Oregon. It strongly resembles the lilac, which already blooms in May. Its leaf color is usually medium green. Learn how to plant, care for and prune butterfly bush in your garden. Copyright/Privacy | DMCA Policy     © Colorado Springs Utilities. Butterfly bush (Buddleja/Buddleia) is a genus of hardy flowering plants that produce appealing fragrant flower heads known for attracting butterflies and other insects.Despite being considered invasive by many ecologists, their striking appearance has helped them maintain their popularity in ornamental gardening. Ask an Expert is made up of groups and individual experts. A native of Asia, it has no checks and balances in the U.S., and as a larger wildlife-supporting plant, it just doesn't pass muster. Introduced from Asia around 1900, butterfly bush … Butterfly Bushes: Shorter & Non-Invasive Varieties Traditional butterfly bushes could reach 8-10 feet tall. Nonetheless, the flowers are beautiful and support butterflies and bees. Flower color: purple, pink or white (depending on cultivar), Native habitat: species is native to China, Butterfly bush is a somewhat irregularly shaped, arching shrub. My own thoughts about using butterfly bush as a nectar plant have changed quite a bit as a result of this issue. Its leaf color is usually medium green. It's easy to grow and produces striking flower spikes. Douglas county master gardeners D. Replied June 23, 2020, 4:25 PM EDT The flowers are arranged in cone-shaped clusters on the end of the stems and are very fragrant. But did you know that Butterfly Bush is a highly invasive plant and is destroying native butterfly and wildlife habitat? Nationale Plantentuin en het Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek i.s.m. Butterflies seek out areas with food plants for the caterpillar stage. Butterfly bush is drought-tolerant, and is a colorful addition to gardens and landscapes. Ream J, 2006. Water recent transplants more often than established plants. Buddleja davidii Franchet (Synonym. Manual of cultivated trees and shrubs hardy in North America. The shrub is actually considered to be invasive, meaning it competes with the native plants in the area and will continue to spread and be harmful to the local eco-system. The State of Oregon, which has a rigorous ban on Buddleia in place, has recently amended their ban to allow these non-invasive cultivars. Butterfly weed should not be confused with butterfly bush, a non-native plant that is considered invasive throughout most of the U.S. About Butterfly Bush: An Invasive Species in Maryland. iStock/Thinkstock . Here's the thing about butterfly bush. Discover why Buddleia is irresistible to pollinators and how to keep them blooming longer. Butterfly Bush Alternative: 'Miss Kim' Korean Lilac Alamy (Syringa pabescens subsp. Buddleia davidii; common name butterfly bush) is a perennial, semi-deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub that is resident in gardens and disturbed areas. Thanks to the magic of cultivar developers, the flowers now come in a number of colors, including pink, yellow blue, and multicolors. … I recently visited a nursery in Arapaho County, Colorado. In warm climates, it becomes more of a noxious weed and spreads ferociously through seed dispersal. Rev. States Where Butterfly Bush is Invasive . We have one in our yard and we trim the dead branches every year almost to the ground and it comes back nice and healthy without invading any other space in our garden. Adorned with an orange eye, the flowers are freely produced from mid summer through early fall and sometimes to first frost. It has sometimes suffered dieback in exposed sites in the Colorado Springs area, so it needs a protected location to thrive. 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