17 Common and Rare Butterfly Bush Varieties (With Pictures)

Butterfly bushes, or Buddleja, are wonderful additions to any garden. These plants are known for their vibrant colors and ability to attract butterflies and pollinators. With various sizes and colors, these bushes can fit into various garden designs, making them a versatile choice for gardeners.

Butterfly bushes are special because they mix common and rare varieties that cater to different gardening needs and preferences. These plants can vary greatly in size, color, and bloom time, providing options for any type of garden setting. From small and compact to large and sprawling, there is a butterfly bush for every space and style.

1. Black Knight

The Black Knight butterfly bush features striking dark purple flowers with a rich fragrance. These blooms also have bright yellow centers, making the flowers stand out even more.

This variety is known for its vigorous growth, reaching heights of 6 to 10 feet and widths of 3 to 6 feet. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.

Despite its beauty, the Black Knight can become invasive in some areas. It is crucial to monitor its spread in your garden. This bush can be propagated from both seeds and cuttings.

This plant is a fantastic addition to any garden, offering both beauty and fragrance.

2. Miss Ruby

The Miss Ruby Butterfly Bush is a standout with its vivid, rich pink blooms. The flowers have an eye-catching magenta color, making this variety particularly striking in any garden.

Miss Ruby is a tall, deciduous shrub, reaching a height of 48 to 60 inches. It needs a spacing of 60 to 72 inches to grow properly.

This bush has dense foliage with vibrant green leaves and an upright growth habit. It’s well-suited for containers and mixed plantings, adding a splash of color wherever it’s placed.

To thrive, Miss Ruby requires full sun and well-drained soil. In colder zones, it may die back to the ground in winter, but it generally proves to be cold-hardy and benefits from winter mulching.

3. Ellen’s Blue

Ellen’s Blue Butterfly Bush is one of the standout varieties of Buddleja davidii. This deciduous shrub is known for its vibrant blue-violet flowers with orange eyes.

Discovered by Ellen Horning in New York, Ellen’s Blue is both beautiful and fragrant. It blooms from summer into fall, offering a great visual appeal.

Its compact size of 4 to 5 feet makes it perfect for garden landscapes and container planting. This variety attracts many pollinators, making it a great choice for supporting local wildlife. Ellen’s Blue is ideal for any garden, adding color and fragrance effortlessly.

4. White Profusion

The White Profusion is a striking variety of the butterfly bush. Its beautiful, pure white flower spikes add a touch of elegance to any garden.

This shrub is known for its arching branches and lance-shaped, gray-green leaves with white-felted undersides. The flowers are sweetly scented and can reach up to 8 inches long.

White Profusion blooms from mid-summer to the first frost. It typically grows to about 5-6 feet tall, making it an excellent choice for hedges or stand-alone plants in the garden.

5. Pink Delight

The Pink Delight butterfly bush is a stunning addition to any garden. It produces large conical clusters of bright pink flowers that bloom throughout summer. These fragrant blooms are not only beautiful but also attract numerous butterflies.

Pink Delight has a compact habit, making it perfect for smaller garden spaces or containers. Its arching branches are covered in lance-shaped, gray-green leaves which add to its appeal.

This deciduous shrub can reach up to 8-10 feet in height and 4-6 feet in width. It’s a versatile plant that works well as a background or accent plant in sunny borders or cutting gardens.

6. Nanho Purple

Nanho Purple is a compact variety of the butterfly bush. Its lavender-purple flowers are a magnet for butterflies, adding vibrant color to gardens from July to September. Unlike some larger varieties, Nanho Purple typically stays around 3-5 feet tall if pruned back in late winter.

This deciduous shrub has an arching, spreading habit. It is heat and drought-tolerant once well established, making it a tough and easy-care option for gardeners. The plant received the RHS Award of Garden Merit, highlighting its garden value.

Nanho Purple not only attracts butterflies but also adds a special touch to any garden with its beautiful flowers and foliage.

7. Honeycomb

The Honeycomb butterfly bush (Buddleja × weyeriana ‘Honeycomb’) is a deciduous shrub with arching branches. Its gray-green leaves are lance-shaped, giving it a graceful appearance.

This plant produces creamy-yellow flowers with an orange eye. These sweetly scented blooms appear from mid-summer through early fall, sometimes lasting until the first frost. This shrub’s versatility in the garden makes it a superb choice for many different environments.

The Honeycomb variety is low-maintenance, drought and heat-tolerant, and deer-resistant. It’s perfect for hot climates and areas where deer are a problem. This butterfly bush also attracts hummingbirds and bees, making our gardens lively with pollinators.

8. Adonis Blue

Plant Profile:

• Scientific Name: Buddleja davidii ‘Adokeep’ (Adonis Blue)
• Height: 3-5 feet
• Width: 3-5 feet
• Flower Color: Dark Blue
• Flower Length: Up to 10 inches
• Sun Exposure: Full Sun
• Soil Type: Well-drained
• Watering: Regular

Adonis Blue is a stunning hybrid in the butterfly bush family. Its vibrant blue flowers stand out in any garden. This shrub grows to about 3-5 feet tall and wide. Unlike typical B. davidii, it is denser and more compact.

The plant produces large flower spikes that can reach up to 10 inches long. Its flowers attract many butterflies, making it a great addition to butterfly gardens.

Adonis Blue has a well-branched structure. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Regular watering helps maintain its vibrant blooms. This variety is perfect for gardeners looking to add a splash of blue while supporting local butterfly populations.

9. Sungold

The Sungold butterfly bush is a striking and unique variety. It features bright yellow flowers that stand out in any garden. This plant is known for attracting butterflies and bees, making it a favorite among gardeners who want to support pollinators.

This bush can grow up to 7 feet tall if not pruned, with an upright and spreading habit. It blooms on both old and new wood, so pruning in late winter can help maintain its shape and encourage more flowers.

Easy to grow in well-drained soil, the Sungold bush thrives in full sun but can tolerate partial shade. It’s a hardy and resilient plant, perfect for adding a splash of color and life to our gardens.

10. Peacock

The Peacock Butterfly Bush is a compact, dwarf variety that stands out in any garden. It blooms with a lush display of pinkish-purple flowers.

This shrub is known for attracting lots of butterflies, making it perfect for a butterfly garden. It can tolerate clay soil but does not do well in wet soils.

Despite its compact size, it has a long bloom period, sometimes extending to October. The flowers grow in large clusters, adding vibrant color to the landscape.

11. Blue Chip

The Blue Chip butterfly bush is a standout for its unique blue flowers. Unlike some larger varieties, it remains a compact shrub, making it perfect for small gardens or container planting.

This plant offers continuous blooms from mid-summer through early fall. Its fragrance attracts butterflies, adding lively movement to our gardens. With its manageable size and vibrant blooms, Blue Chip is a versatile and attractive choice for many of our garden spaces.

12. Royal Red

Royal Red is a stunning butterfly bush variety with vibrant, purple-red flowers. This deciduous shrub can add spectacular summer color to any garden. The flowers bloom in conical clusters, giving the plant a unique and appealing look.

The fragrance of Royal Red attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, making it a perfect addition to a pollinator-friendly garden. It grows to be 6-12 feet tall and has a spread of about 4-15 feet. This variety’s relaxed habit gives it a loftier and shorter appearance.

Royal Red is also versatile. It can be used as a background plant or an accent in a cutting garden or perennial border. With its beautiful blossoms and delightful scent, it certainly stands out among other varieties. The Royal Red Butterfly Bush is a strong contender for any garden that needs a splash of color and a boost in pollinator activity.

13. Harlequin

Harlequin is a unique variety of Buddleia davidii. This variegated butterfly bush stands out with its leaves that have white margins. The weeping aspect of Harlequin gives a different look compared to other butterfly bushes.

It grows best in moist, well-drained soils and can handle partial to full sun. Wet, poorly drained sites should be avoided since they can lead to root rot. Once established, it is drought tolerant.

Harlequin typically reaches a height of 6-8 feet, but it might grow taller in optimal conditions. The plant is suitable for different soil types but amending clay soil with compost can help it thrive better.

14. Summer Beauty

The Summer Beauty butterfly bush is a lovely addition to any garden. Known for its cheerful pink blossoms, this variety blooms from mid-summer to late autumn. It attracts butterflies and other pollinators, making it a lively choice.

Summer Beauty is relatively easy to care for. It needs full sun and well-drained soil to thrive. This bush can grow up to 4-6 feet tall and 3-5 feet wide, making it ideal for garden borders or as a standalone feature.

15. Lo & Behold Blue Chip Jr

Plant Profile:

• Common Name: Lo & Behold Blue Chip Jr.
• Scientific Name: Buddleia ‘Blue Chip Jr.’
• Height: Up to 3 feet
• Flower Color: Lavender-blue
• Bloom Time: Summer to frost
• Maintenance: Low
• Resistance: Deer, drought
• Best For: Mass planting, perennial gardens, mixed borders

The Lo & Behold Blue Chip Jr. is a standout variety in the butterfly bush family. This plant is compact, staying under three feet tall, making it an excellent choice for smaller gardens. It has rich lavender-blue flowers that add vibrant color from summer until frost.

One of the best things about Blue Chip Jr. is its ease of maintenance. It doesn’t require deadheading and is both drought-tolerant and deer-resistant. This makes it ideal for mass planting, perennial gardens, and mixed borders.

Its silvery foliage enhances its beauty and fits well among other perennials and shrubs. The Blue Chip Jr. is also a sterile variety, which means it won’t spread uncontrollably.

16. Buzz Magenta

Buzz Magenta is a standout variety in the butterfly bush family. It boasts vibrant magenta flowers that attract lots of butterflies and hummingbirds.

This variety was bred to be compact yet full of blooms. It grows up to 3-5 feet tall and wide, making it a great choice for smaller gardens or patios.

We should plant Buzz Magenta in full sun and well-drained soil. It is hardy and can thrive in USDA zones 5-9. Regular pruning in spring helps maintain its bushy form.

17. Flutterby Petite Snow White

Flutterby Petite Snow White is a compact deciduous shrub. It grows between 2 and 3 feet tall and wide, making it ideal for small gardens. Its soft, green leaves add texture to any garden.

From mid-summer to the first frost, this variety blooms with pure white flowers. Each flower cluster is about 4 inches long. These flowers are known for their beauty but are scentless.

This butterfly bush variety is also sterile and non-invasive. It offers lovely blooms without the risk of spreading uncontrollably. Plant Flutterby Petite Snow White in a sunny spot for the best results. This shrub is an excellent choice if you want a manageable, beautiful garden plant.

Growth and Care Tips

To ensure our butterfly bushes thrive, we need to pay attention to soil conditions, watering, and pruning needs. Proper care will result in lush, healthy plants that attract butterflies and other pollinators.

Ideal Soil Conditions

Butterfly bushes prefer well-drained soil. They struggle in waterlogged environments, so it’s crucial to pick a spot with good drainage or amend the soil if necessary. Incorporating peat moss can help improve drainage, especially in dense or clay-heavy soils.

Soil pH should be slightly acidic to neutral, with a range of 6.0 to 7.0 being optimal. This ensures the bushes absorb nutrients effectively. If planting multiple bushes, space them about 5 to 6 feet apart to promote healthy growth and air circulation.

Watering Requirements

Butterfly bushes need regular water during their first growing season to establish strong roots. Aim to keep the soil moist but not soggy. Watering deeply once a week is often sufficient.

After the first year, these plants become more drought-tolerant. However, in extremely dry spells, occasional watering may be necessary to keep them lush. Always water at the base to avoid wetting the foliage, which can lead to disease.

Pruning Guidelines

Pruning is essential for maintaining the shape and health of butterfly bushes. We should prune in early spring before new growth begins. Cut back the branches to about 12 inches from the ground. This encourages robust growth and helps the plant produce more flowers.

Remove any dead or damaged wood during the growing season to allow more light and air to reach the center of the plant. Regular deadheading, or removing spent blooms, also promotes continuous flowering throughout the season.