6 Purple Butterfly Bushes for Garden Variety Butterflies
Are you looking for a touch of Prince-ly purple charm to attract butterflies to your garden? If so, purple butterfly bushes deserve serious consideration! These stunning perennial shrubs, also known as purple Buddleia davidii plants, are also a favorite flower for many butterfly garden enthusiasts, and deer-resistant to boot.
Check out 6 potential purple butterfly bush options to see if one could be the perfect fit for your garden:
- Option 1: Black Knight Butterfly Bush
- Option 2: Miss Violet Butterfly Bush
- Option 3: Buddleja Buzz ‘Midnight’
- Option 4: Pugster ‘Amethyst’
- Option 5: ‘Dark Dynasty’ Butterfly Bush
- Option 6: Buddleia ‘Grand Cascade’
Black Knight Butterfly Bush
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
- Bloom Color: dark violet-purple
- Plant Size: Can reach a height of 6-8 feet and a spread of 4-6 feet.
- Growth Habits: Fast-growing and produces long, arching branches.
- Pros: Deep purple flowers, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, drought-tolerant.
- Cons: Require pruning and can be invasive in some regions. (i.e. pacific northwest, Washington, Oregon)
Where to purchase plants:
Buy Black Knight Butterfly Bush on Etsy
Find Buddleia Black Knight Plants on Amazon
When purchasing plants, be sure to check the size as plants are available in pot sizes from one quart up to 3 gallon or more.
Miss Violet Butterfly Bush
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
- Bloom Color: Bright purple, violet
- Plant Size: Medium compact plant, reaching a height of 4-5 feet and a spread of 4-5 feet.
- Growth Habits: Dense and bushy, perfect for smaller gardens or containers.
- Pros: Seedless and non-invasive variety, attracts butterflies and bees, continuous blooms, low maintenance.
- Cons: Requires deadheading, may require winter protection in colder climates.
Where to purchase plants:
Click Here to Buy ‘Miss Violet’ Butterfly Bush
Click Here to Buy ‘Miss Violet’ Buddleia
Buddleja Buzz ‘Midnight’
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
- Bloom Color: Deep, dark purple
- Plant Size: Compact and dwarf variety, growing up to 3-5 feet tall and 3’ wide, flowers up to 8” long flowers
- Growth Habits: Rounded shape with dense foliage.
- Pros: good for direct planting or container gardening suitable for small spaces.
- Cons: tender perennial for northern climates
Where to purchase plants:
Click Here to Buy ‘Midnight’ Buzz Plants
Buy ALL the Buzz Buddleia ( 3 plants, includes one lavender purple plant)
More Info on Growing Buddleia Buzz
Pugster ‘Amethyst’
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
- Bloom Color: light purple flowers
- Plant Size: Compact and dwarf variety, reaching a height and spread of 2-3 feet. full-sized flowers on a dwarf plant
- Growth Habits: Dense and bushy, with sturdy stems.
- Pros: Abundant flowers, attracts butterflies and bees, thick stems increase winter-hardiness.
- Cons: May require occasional deadheading to promote continuous blooming (even though growers claim it doesn’t)
Where to purchase plants:
Click to Find Pugster ‘Amethyst’ Butterfly Bush on Etsy
Click Here to Find Buddleia Pugster ‘Amethyst’ on Amazon
Dark Dynasty
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-10
- Bloom Color: Rich Royal Purple, dark purple
- Plant size: 3 feet tall and 4 ft wide at full maturity
- Growth Habits: Well-branched and compact, suitable for containers or small gardens.
- Pros: Fragrant purple flowers, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, heat and drought-tolerant.
- Cons: May require regular pruning to maintain shape.
Where to purchase plants:
Buy Dark Dynasty Butterfly Bush on Etsy
Buddleia ‘Grand Cascade’
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-10
- Plant Size: Up to 6 feet tall, and 7 to 8 ft wide at full maturity
- Growth Habits: panicles cascade downward, like a weepy weeping willow
- Pros: Enormous flowers up to 24” long , that attract pollinators and are heat and drought-tolerant, long blooming
- Cons: Some gardeners will prefer the upright growing flowers of other varieties
Where to purchase plants:
Click to Buy Buddleia ‘Grand Cascade’ on Etsy
Find ‘Grand Cascade’ Butterfly Bush on eBay
Purple butterfly bushes are beautiful flowering perennials that attract a variety of butterflies and pollinators to your garden landscape including butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, and bees. Plant them in full sun and well-draining soil for best results.
With purpular options like Black Knight, Miss Violet, Buddleja Buzz ‘Midnight’, Pugster ‘Amethyst’, Dark Dynasty, and Buddleia ‘Grand Cascade’, there is a perfect purple butterfly bush for every garden size and gardener preference.
Now get ready to transform your garden into a haven for butterflies and enjoy the mesmerizing beauty of purple Buddleia davidii…
