Buddleja davidii Groovy Grape - Butterfly Bush

Buddleia davidii Groovy Grape is a new variety of bush that is voluptuous, floriferous, fragrant, and richly coloured that will undoubtedly attract attention in the garden. On the rounded mass of its slightly greyish vegetation, waves of long, arching panicles abundantly adorned with intensely violet flowers emerge, animated by the flight of multicoloured butterflies. They continue to form until autumn if the bush is pruned after each wave of flowers. A superb plant that will quickly make an impact in a large flowering hedge or shrub border.

Buddleia davidii Groovy Grape (PIIBD-I' PP26,305) was recently selected in the United States. It is a large bush with a rounded and bushy habit belonging to the Buddlejaceae family. It is derived from the David's Buddleia, also known as the Father David's Buddleia or the Changing Buddleia, a robust Chinese species. Groovy Grape will reach a height of approximately 2.75m (9ft) with an approximate spread of 2.50m (8ft) in 3 to 4 years if not regularly pruned. It produces rather upright branches adorned with grey-silver young shoots that unfold into green-grey leaves, lighter on the underside. The leaves, 12 to 20cm (5 to 8in) long, are pointed and lanceolate in shape. This deciduous foliage is absent in winter, except in mild climates. This variety blooms from July to October if branches carrying faded inflorescences are pruned. The flower panicles are abundant, 22cm (9in) long and 4-5cm (2in) wide, very dense. These flowers are dark violet with a small orange eye and release a sweet fragrance, highly sought after by pollinators (meaning they contain substances collected by pollinators that will transform them into honey). This very hardy bush is highly resistant to urban pollution and does not suffer from occasional drought in deep soil.

Whether planted individually or in groups, at the corner of the house, in a flowering hedge, or at the back of a perennial border, Buddleia davidii Groovy Grape will animate the garden throughout the summer and into early autumn. You can plant it in a mixed hedge, together with lilacs, Vitex, hawthorns, Berberis, flowering apple trees, Poncirus, deciduous Euonymus, Pseudocydonia sinensis... It adapts well to coastal areas and thrives in any good garden soil. Its pleasantly scented flowers are also very attractive in bouquets.