Introducing...
Tender buddlejas
Tender buddlejas that need winter protection like B. madagascariensis are particularly worth growing if you have a conservatory or greenhouse. They can offer winter flower and fragrance, but some can be moved outside in containers for the summer. In mild coastal areas or cities, experiment with growing some of these types outdoors year round.
Looks
These buddlejas are tall shrubs. They are mostly evergreen or semi-evergreen, with grey through to dark green leaves and sweetly fragrant, lilac, orange, yellow or white flowers. Flowers are clustered into balls or longer spikes at the end of shoots.
Likes
Tender buddlejas need free-draining peat-free compost with added grit. If grown outdoors in mild locations, pick a sheltered, sunny wall for added protection.
Dislikes
None will tolerate prolonged freezing temperatures, excessive winter wet, cold winds or shade.
Did you know?
Tender buddlejas come in a much greater range of flower and leaf colours than the well-known butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii). Some tender forms such as Buddleja colvilei and get tougher with age, so mature plants could be risked planted outdoors against a sunny wall in sheltered places, in cities or on the south coast for example.
Growing guide
How to grow buddlejas
All the information you’ll need to grow & care for buddlejas in your garden
Tender buddlejas we recommend
Buddleja madagascariensis
Madagascar butterfly bush
- 2.5–4 metres
- 2.5–4 metres
Buddleja officinalis
pale butterfly bush
- 2.5–4 metres
- 2.5–4 metres
Buddleja asiatica
Asian butterfly bush
- 2.5–4 metres
- 2.5–4 metres
Buddleja madagascariensis
Madagascar butterfly bush
- 2.5–4 metres
- 2.5–4 metres
Buddleja officinalis
pale butterfly bush
- 2.5–4 metres
- 2.5–4 metres
Buddleja asiatica
Asian butterfly bush
- 2.5–4 metres
- 2.5–4 metres
Buy buddlejas from 911±¬ÁÏplants.co.uk
Every purchase supports the work of the 911±¬ÁÏ
Useful advice
Plants for coastal areas
Overwintering plants in conservatories
Cool conservatory and greenhouse plants
Overwintering tender plants: wrapping
911±¬ÁÏ
The 911±¬ÁÏ is the UK’s gardening charity, helping people and plants to grow - nurturing a healthier, happier world, one person and one plant at a time.