Buddleja davidii 'ROYAL RED' butterfly bush, buddleja
Buddleja
Buddleja is better known as butterfly bush. The reason is obvious – from early summer when it starts blooming until early autumn it produces large, scented flowers that attract winged insects, mostly butterflies. If you are not yet aware of how many butterfly species you can get in your part of the world get one buddleja and in a few weeks you can apply for a doctor’s degree in butterflies!Royal Red is a butterfly bush with deep purple-red flowers that are fragrant and up to 50 cm long. Individual flowers are small and tubular, formed in up to 40 cm long, dense panicles at the ends of the branches. The inflorescence may look like lilac hence its other name: summer lilac. However, it can get misleading as summer lilac is more often used for lagerstroemia.
Deciduous leaves are lanceolate, deep green, and slightly hairy. The shrub is airy and makes arching branches. It grows fast and gains attractive shape with age. To achieve a nice looking plant cut back last year’s branches to low permanent framework as buds begin to swell.
Butterfly bush requires little care. Plant it in full sun, in well-drained humus-rich soil. It will die in boggy soil after winter. Though hardy to -27°C (USDA zone 5b) it performs better in warmer zones.
We suggest buying older plants with woody framework for planting in colder areas.
Last update 15-07-2009
