Buddleja alternifolia - Butterfly Bush

The alternate-leaved buddleja, or alternate-leaved butterfly bush, is a large shrub with a weeping habit, giving it a sense of lightness and undeniable elegance. In summer, its long drooping branches are covered in panicles of lilac-pink flowers that delight the eyes and attract numerous species of butterfly. Its deciduous leaves are arranged alternately on the branches (hence its species name, alternifolia). Hardy, growing in full sun or partial shade, even in poor soil, the butterfly bush can be showcased as a standalone plant or in a border with other shrubs and perennials.

Originally from Northwest China, Buddleja alternifolia, also known as alternate-leaved buddleja, is a deciduous shrub belonging to the Buddlejaceae family. Its bushy habit is a little unkempt but very elegant, thanks to its slightly arched long branches. It reaches a height of 3 m (9 ft 10 in) and a spread of 4 m (13 ft 1 in) in 4 or 5 years. Over the years, the branches of this buddleja tend to bend, allowing its magnificent flowers to sway in the wind. The previous year's branches are covered in panicles of lilac-pink flowers in June and July, producing a good amount of nectar that attracts butterflies. The silver-grey lanceolate leaves are arranged alternately on the branches.

Easy to grow, the alternate-leaved buddleja thrives in sunny locations. Plant it in light, fertile, moist, but well-drained soil. The butterfly bush only requires a simple pruning after flowering. However, every 2 to 3 years, it is good to cut back the branches to maintain a compact habit and prevent the shrub from becoming too open. In late winter, around March or April, remove half of the branches and cut away any dead wood.

Very tolerant of different soil types, the alternate-leaved butterfly bush is a robust and easy-to-grow plant that ages well. You can plant it as a standalone specimen to enjoy its weeping habit, or mix it with other shrubs to create beautiful borders or flowering hedges, such as other buddlejas (Lochinch, Naho Blue, White chip...). Equally, old-fashioned or English roses (old-fashioned rose Cuisse de Nymphe Emue, Generosa Chantal Thomass rose), cotinus, and lupins make good companions, and ornamental garlic will harmonise with the colour of its flowers.

Buddleja or Buddleia is named after its discoverer, Reverend Adam Buddle, a 19th-century English botanist.