Buddleia / Butterfly Bush – Desert Horizon Nursery

Butterfly Bush

Buddleja davidii
Categories:
Shrubs  ·  
Flowering Shrubs
Light
Morning sun / afternoon shade
Water
Moderate water in Phoenix; irrigate deeply and allow the upper few inches of soil to dry between waterings. Water more frequently during establishment and extreme summer heat.
Size
6-10 ft tall × 4-8 ft wide
Habit
Mounded – spreading shrub
Toxicity
Non-toxic
Description
Fast-growing shrub with arching branches, narrow gray-green leaves, and fragrant flower spikes that attract butterflies; needs protection from Phoenix’s harshest summer conditions.
Bloom Time
Spring through fall
Deciduous / Evergreen
Deciduous
Special Features
Attracts Butterflies, Fast Growing, Fragrant
Growth Rate
Fast
Growth Habit
Mounded – spreading shrub
Mature Size
6-10 ft tall × 4-8 ft wide
Flower Color
Purple / pink / white / or yellow depending on cultivar
Foliage Color
Gray-green
Landscape Use
Border / Bed, Container / Patio, Desert / Xeriscape, Hedge / Screen, Pollinator / Wildlife Garden
Garden Style
Desert / Xeriscape, Hedge / Formal, Pollinator / Wildlife
Soil
Alkaline Tolerant, Well-Drained
Companion Plants
Autumn sage, Desert milkweed, Lantana, Society garlic
Non-toxic
Non-toxic
Care Instructions

Light: Full morning sun with afternoon shade in Phoenix; avoid reflected heat from pavement and west-facing walls.

Water: Moderate water in Phoenix; irrigate deeply and allow the upper few inches of soil to dry between waterings. Water more frequently during establishment and extreme summer heat.

Soil: Well-drained soil; tolerates alkaline conditions but struggles in poorly drained clay. Plant slightly elevated if drainage is marginal.

Mature size: Typically 6–10 feet tall and 4–8 feet wide; dwarf cultivars remain about 2–4 feet tall and wide.

Bloom: Late spring through fall, with flowering often reduced during extreme summer heat. Deadheading encourages repeat bloom.

Evergreen / deciduous: Deciduous to semi-evergreen in Phoenix’s mild winters.

Growth rate: Fast with adequate irrigation and suitable exposure.