Extension Communications
Extension 4-H Youth Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3630
(515) 294-9915
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Extension Communications |
9/2/04
Contacts:
Linda Naeve, Reiman Gardens, (515) 294-8946, lnaeve@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033,
jmcguire@iastate.edu
Reiman's Pick For the week of August 30, 2004
Butterfly Bush Lives Up To Its Name
By Linda Naeve,
Reiman Gardens
Iowa State University Extension
Aesthetics and functionality often determine where to place plants in a well-designed garden. This week, the butterfly bush, wins Reiman's Pick as it meets both of these criteria for its season-long color and the butterflies it attracts to the garden.
Butterfly bush, Buddleia davidii, is a woody, herbaceous shrub that can grow
up to six feet tall in a single season. It is hardy as far north as USDA Hardiness
Zone 5.
Butterfly bush is native to China. It was one of many ornamentals "discovered" by
Victorian-era explorers and later introduced to English gardens. London's Kew
Gardens first planted the butterfly bush in 1896, and in recent years, it has
become popular in American gardens. It is often the anchor plant in "butterfly
gardens."
The tiny, tubular flowers on butterfly bush contain a tasty reservoir of nectar and are a favorite of many butterfly species. Throughout the summer, swallowtails, red admirals, monarchs and other flying beauties visit these flowers for a meal.
The panicle flower clusters on butterfly bush resemble small, narrow lilac blossoms. However, that is where the similarities end. Lilacs bloom early in the season, while the butterfly bush blooms several weeks later. Butterfly bush flowers have a soft, honey-scented fragrance, unlike the intoxicating, familiar lilac scent. Flowers on the butterfly bush develop on current season's growth whereas lilacs bloom on previous season's wood.
Butterfly bush is easy to grow and is nearly pest-free. It prefers full sun and grows in most soil conditions, including the alkaline soil commonly found in many Iowa gardens. Plant it at least five- to six-feet from other plants because it quickly becomes a tall, spreading shrub. After planting, apply a layer of mulch around the bush to conserve moisture and buffer the soil temperature in the winter.
In early spring, before new growth appears, prune the plant back to about a foot high. This drastic pruning rewards you with a floriferous, tidy plant. Remove faded, spent blooms to encourage flower clusters from mid-summer through fall.
There are dozens of butterfly bush cultivars available that bloom in white and in shades of red, pink, yellow, lavender and purple. If you have space in your garden, plant cultivars of different colors to attract different butterfly species. Red-blooming cultivars will also attract hummingbirds.
At ISU's Reiman Gardens, the 'Black Knight' butterfly bushes are in bloom in front of the Hunziker House in the Town and Country Garden. Now is a good time to see monarchs feeding from them on warm, sunny days in late summer. The 'Black Knight' bushes create a beautiful, light and airy background hedge and offer visitors another opportunity to see and photograph butterflies.
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Editors: A color photo, suitable for publication, is available at right. Click on the thumbnail photo to go to the fullsized photo. The picture's fullsize photo is 468K. Caption: The lilac-like flowers on a butterfly bush are a magnet for many butterflies and hummingbirds. Plant them towards the back of a sunny garden and enjoy their colorful blossoms from mid-summer through fall. |
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