Butterfly bushes, or varieties of the Buddleia, are bushes that attract butterflies. There are over 100 species of butterfly bushes, with most surviving in areas where temperatures dip to -20 degrees Fahrenheit.
Types
According to the Mountain Valley Growers website, most commercial varieties of butterfly bushes are types of Buddleia davidii and grow between 6 and 15 feet tall. Examples of Buddleia davidii include the Black Night, Twilight, Purple Ice Delight, Royal Red and Dwarf Blue--which is not such a dwarf since it can grow to 12 feet. Black Night has the darkest flowers, Twilight and Purple Ice Delight are drought resistant and Royal Red has rare maroon flowers.
Hybrids
Hybrid butterfly bushes are usually crossed with weyerianas. Sungold, which produces gold flowers, is a dense shrub standing 8 feet tall. Bicolor has the rare combination of pink and gold flowers, but grows slower and to shorter heights.
Other Varieties
The Fountain Butterfly Bush, or the Buddleia alternifolia species, can survive temperatures as low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit; its drooping branches are densely populated with lilac flowers. The Winter Flowering Lilac, or Buddleia asiatica, is the tallest butterfly bush at 15 feet and the Himalayan Butterfly Bush, or Buddleia crispa, has extremely soft, felted gray leaves similar in texture to the plant commonly known as Lambs Ears.
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