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Buddleja alternifolia (Alternate-leaved butterfly bush)

Other names: Buddleia alternifolia, Buddlea alternifolia

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Species
B. alternifolia is a vigorous, arching, deciduous shrub or small tree with lance-shaped, grey-green leaves and dense, rounded clusters of strongly fragrant, lilac flowers in early summer. Buddleia are nectar rich plants, which encourage benefical wildlife, such as ladybirds, lacewings and hoverflies into the garden
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Season of interest

Flower

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Flower

Foliage

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Foliage
Height and spread

Height and spread

Size Max height Max spread To maturity
4 m 4 m 10-20 years
13 ft 13 ft 10-20 years

Where to grow

Soil type
  • Chalky
  • Clay
  • Loamy
  • Sandy
Soil drainage
  • Moist but well-drained
  • Well-drained
Soil pH
  • Acid
  • Alkaline
  • Neutral
Sunlight
  • Partial Shade
  • Full Sun
Aspect
  • East
  • West
  • South
Exposure
  • Exposed
  • Sheltered

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Additional plant details

Cultivation

Best grown in well-drained soil in full sun.

Suggested uses

Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Bees (attract & feed bees)

UK hardiness

H6

USDA zones

Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9

Sunset zone

2B, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Low
Central Valley = Low
South Coastal = Moderate/Medium
South Inland = Inappropriate
High and Intermediate Desert = Moderate/Medium
Low Desert = Moderate/Medium

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Bushy, Irregular, Arching, Branching

Native to

China, Tibet

Drought tolerant

Yes

Flood tolerant

No

Fragrance

The flowers are sweetly fragrant.

Toxicity

Not toxic

Plant care

Pruning

The panicles turn brown, so deadhead as they fade to improve appearance. Pruning group 2. Unlike most Buddleja species, Buddleja atlernifolia blooms on old wood. Do not cut to the base in spring. Rather, prune immediately after flowering.

Propagation methods

Semi-hardwood cuttings

Pests

Capsid bug

Caterpillars

Aphids

Earwigs

Figwort weevils

Glasshouse red spider mite

Eelworms (leaf and bud)

Diseases

Honey fungus

Leaf spot

Plant container grown plants in deep fertile, well-drained soil

Take semi-hardwood cuttings in late-summer

Deadhead regularly (optional)

Plant in good soil in full sun

Plant container grown plants in a sunny postion

Prune after flowering (optional)

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (101)

Buddleja

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Buddleja davidii (any variety)
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Buddleja davidii (any variety) Butterfly bush (any variety)
Buddleja davidii
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Buddleja davidii Butterfly bush
Buddleja davidii 'Nanho Purple'
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Buddleja davidii 'Nanho Purple' Butterfly bush 'Nanho Purple'
Buddleja x weyeriana 'Bicolor'
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Buddleja x weyeriana 'Bicolor' Weyer butterfly bush 'Bicolor'
Buddleja davidii 'Harlequin'
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Buddleja davidii 'Harlequin' Butterfly bush 'Harlequin'
Buddleja x weyeriana 'Sungold'
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Buddleja x weyeriana 'Sungold' Butterfly bush 'Sungold'
Buddleja davidii 'Border Beauty'
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Buddleja davidii 'Border Beauty' Butterfly bush 'Border Beauty'
Buddleja davidii 'Nanho Blue'
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Buddleja davidii 'Nanho Blue' Butterfly bush 'Nanho Blue'
Buddleja davidii 'Nanho White'
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Buddleja davidii 'Nanho White' Butterfly bush 'Nanho White'
Buddleja globosa
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Buddleja globosa Orange ball tree
Buddleja 'Santana'
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Buddleja 'Santana' Butterfly bush 'Santana'
Buddleja 'Lochinch'
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Buddleja 'Lochinch' Butterfly bush 'Lochinch'
Buddleja alternifolia
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Buddleja alternifolia Alternate-leaved butterfly bush
Buddleja davidii 'Black Knight'
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Buddleja davidii 'Black Knight' Butterfly bush 'Black Knight'
Buddleja davidii 'Dartmoor'
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Buddleja davidii 'Dartmoor' Butterfly bush 'Dartmoor'
Buddleja davidii 'Empire Blue'
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Buddleja davidii 'Empire Blue' Butterfly bush 'Empire Blue'
Buddleja davidii 'Royal Red'
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Buddleja davidii 'Royal Red' Butterfly bush 'Royal Red'
Buddleja davidii 'White Profusion'
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Buddleja davidii 'White Profusion' Butterfly bush 'White Profusion'
Buddleja 'Pink Delight'
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Buddleja 'Pink Delight' Butterfly bush 'Pink Delight'
Buddleja Flutterby Series
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Buddleja Flutterby Series Butterfly bush Flutterby Series
Buddleja davidii 'Adonis Blue'
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Buddleja davidii 'Adonis Blue' Butterfly bush 'Adonis Blue'
Buddleja x weyeriana 'Bicolor'
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Buddleja x weyeriana 'Bicolor' Butterfly bush 'Bicolor'
Buddleja davidii 'Summer Beauty'
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Buddleja davidii 'Summer Beauty' 'Summer Beauty' butterfly bush
Buddleja davidii 'White Bouquet'
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Buddleja davidii 'White Bouquet' Butterfly bush 'White Bouquet'
Buddleja asiatica
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Buddleja asiatica Asian butterfly bush
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Companion plants (17)

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Elaeagnus multiflora
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Elaeagnus multiflora Goumi
Dichroa 'Long March'
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Dichroa 'Long March' Chinese quinine 'Long March'
Elaeagnus multiflora 'Sweet Scarlet'
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Elaeagnus multiflora 'Sweet Scarlet' Goumi 'Sweet Scarlet'
Macleaya microcarpa 'Spetchley Ruby'
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Macleaya microcarpa 'Spetchley Ruby' Plume poppy 'Spetchley Ruby'
Chionanthus retusus
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Chionanthus retusus Chinese fringe tree
Chionanthus virginicus
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Chionanthus virginicus Fringe tree
Dichroa febrifuga
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Dichroa febrifuga Chinese quinine
Broussonetia papyrifera
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Broussonetia papyrifera Paper mulberry
Elaeagnus umbellata
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Elaeagnus umbellata Autumn oleaster
Elaeagnus x ebbingei 'Compacta'
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Elaeagnus x ebbingei 'Compacta' Oleaster 'Compacta'
Elaeagnus x submacrophylla 'Viveleg'
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Elaeagnus x submacrophylla 'Viveleg' Oleaster 'Viveleg'
Salvia rosmarinus Prostratus Group
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Salvia rosmarinus Prostratus Group Rosemary Prostratus Group
Elaeagnus x ebbingei
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Elaeagnus x ebbingei Ebbinge's silverberry
Macleaya microcarpa 'Kelway's Coral Plume'
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Macleaya microcarpa 'Kelway's Coral Plume' Plume poppy 'Kelway's Coral Plume'
Malva x clementii 'Candy Floss'
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Malva x clementii 'Candy Floss' Tree mallow 'Candy Floss'
Nepeta x faassenii
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Nepeta x faassenii Garden catmint
Elaeagnus x submacrophylla 'Gilt Edge'
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Elaeagnus x submacrophylla 'Gilt Edge' Oleaster 'Gilt Edge'
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Related content

Discuss Buddleja alternifolia with other Shoot members

Re: Re: What shape to encourage for newly planted Buddlia alternifolia

Pat Palmer
743 0
Thank you for your response. I love the idea of it being like a fountain, and I do have space to allow that to happen. Do you think then perhaps I should just wait and allow the plant to develop its own natural shape this year and just trim as and when required? Thanks - Pat
Posted: Tuesday 5th of June 2012 04:03 PM

Re: What shape to encourage for newly planted Buddlia alternifolia

ELAINE HUTSON
743 1
This particular buddleia wants to drape like a fountain, so if you have room let it do what it wants to do. I have seen it trained like a small weeping tree, removing all the shoots along the main stem and encouraging the top to do its thing.
Posted: Tuesday 5th of June 2012 01:33 PM

What shape to encourage for newly planted Buddlia alternifolia

Pat Palmer
743 1
I planted this beautiful buddlia last Sept. There are now several long arching stems growing from base. Should I stake these together ... train them against a fence ... trim all back except for central stem? Not sure what shape it wants to be, haven't seen one in situ before. Any ideas would be appreciated
Posted: Tuesday 5th of June 2012 01:19 PM Last reply: Friday 28th of February 2025 12:28 PM
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