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Buddleja davidii var. alba
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

white-flowered butterfly bush

A vigorous shrub with an arching habit; deciduous, narrow, lance-shaped, grey-green leaves 7-13cm long, more felted with white when young than the species; and panicles 9-20cm long of frgrant white flowers with an orange eye, in late summer

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Size
Ultimate height
2.5–4 metres
Time to ultimate height
5–10 years
Ultimate spread
2.5–4 metres
Growing conditions
Sand
Chalk
Loam
Clay
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drained
pH
Neutral, Alkaline, Acid
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green Grey Silver
Summer Orange White Green Grey Silver
Autumn Green Grey Silver
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H6
Botanical details
Family
Scrophulariaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus

Buddleja can be evergreen or deciduous shrubs, occasionally trees or scrambling climbers with simple leaves and panicles of small, tubular fragrant flowers

Name status

Correct

Plant range
China, Tibet

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained soil in full sun. See buddleja cultivation for more detailed advice

Propagation

Propagate by hardwood cuttings in autumn, or by heeled semi-hardwood cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

Pruning group 6

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, capsid bugs, caterpillars, earwigs, figwort weevils, glasshouse red spider mite, leaf and bud eelworm, and mullein moth

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus, fungal leaf spot, and virus diseases

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