Also be intimate as summer lilac , this plant is an easy to acquire drought tolerant bloom shrub that pull in beneficial insects .
The butterfly Vannevar Bush , or the summertime lilac , is a medium sized flowering shrub qualify by grey - green leaves and cone shaped flower clusters that are typically white or purple . This plant life is often the focal point of a butterfly garden as it attracts different types of beneficial dirt ball and has a dearest - similar scent .
The butterfly bush is native to China and was brought to England in the 1700s . The Latin name for this plant is Buddleja davidii and there are over 100 species .
unlike type of butterfly bush can grow between six and fifteen feet in tallness , with six feet being the most common pinnacle . They also issue forth in dwarf varieties that are about half the size of full size Vannevar Bush . The branches grow in elegant arch and look comfortably if left untamed .
Some varieties conduct flowers in rare colors such as red , aristocratical or yellow . The Black Knight variety has deep purpleness , almost black , flowers . This works grows rapidly and some types can rise up to 10 feet in a turn season .
The Butterfly Bush and Beneficial Insects
While the butterfly bush is a beautiful addition to any garden , it is most utile to butterfly partisan who plan their garden around these plants . Since this shrub needs a quite a little of outer space for its spread branches , plan to place the butterfly bush in the garden plot first and then add together low-pitched arise plant around it .
unfolding annuals and perennials such as marigolds , purple coneflower , and ignominious eyed Susans will congratulate the butterfly bush and also attract beneficial insects .
Butterflies unremarkably attracted to Buddleja davidii are Western Tiger Swallowtails , Red Admirals , the Black Branded Hairstreak and Tortoiseshells . Hummingbirds and beneficial insects like bees also make habit of the butterfly bush . This bloom shrub begins blooming in mid - summertime and continues to do so until early declension .
Planting and Caring for the Butterfly Bush
The summer lilac is easy to spring up and put up many different condition . It tolerates both city and land life in that it is not disturbed by urban topic and in the body politic cervid rarely bothers it .
The bush is often sell in pots at nurseries or in home and garden centers . It prefers full sun and well drained soil , but average garden stain is fine . Because of its public exposure , arched branches , the B. davidii needs lots of place .
check that there is about 6 feet in between it and other George Herbert Walker Bush . Even though the butterfly bush is drouth tolerant , make certain to water it once a hebdomad . It grows best in USDA hardiness zones 5 - 10 and demand about six minute of sun each day .
The butterfly stroke bush can become invasive if left ungoverned . In some states it is considered an incursive , non - native plant and there are try made to get rid of it from the wild .
While the shrub can be left alone without pruning , an episodic clipping will have raw bloom and keep it from taking over the garden . If it is develop in a location with along turn season it can be pruned after flower to encourage more flowers to appear .
In the descent , burn the integral plant back to a couple of feet marvellous . The summer lilac takes grievous pruning well and this will not harm it .
mind of bee when work with the B. davidii as the shrub attract them in large issue . The butterfly stroke bush also spreads from seed .
on a regular basis deadhead flowers to control this as well as stimulate the egress of young bloom of youth . Also , remove and seedling when they come along so they do not become too numerous and buy the farm off other flora .
Do not let cutting sit on the ground as the come may blow away and diffuse to other people ’s property . While the leave of the butterfly stroke bush do not twist colouration in the fall , the plant does keep its leave of absence and provides winter interest .
