Butterfly Bush Buddleja davidii Adonis Blue = 'Adokeep' (PBR)

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Buddleja davidii Adonis Blue, commonly known as the Butterfly Bush, features a lush appearance with an attractive display of blooms and foliage. The most striking visual aspect of this plant is its vibrant, cone-shaped flowers that often come in a bold blue hue. The blossoms are arranged in dense clusters, providing a generous source of nectar that effectively attracts butterflies and other pollinators. The leaves of Adonis Blue are elongated and slightly pointed at the tips, displaying a soft green color that contrasts beautifully with the vivid blue of the flowers. The overall form of the Butterfly Bush is typically rounded, creating a bushy and full silhouette that can serve as a captivating focal point in gardens. The flowers stand out against the backdrop of the green foliage, making it a beloved choice for those who wish to add a dash of color to their outdoor spaces. The plant exudes a light, sweet scent that adds another layer of allure, inviting not only visual admiration but also providing a sensory experience for anyone nearby.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Scrophulariaceae.
- Synonyms
  Butterfly Bush, Summer Lilac.
- Common names
  Buddleja davidii 'Adokeep', Buddleia davidii 'Adokeep'.
Toxicity
- To humans
  Buddleja, commonly known as Butterfly Bush, typically is not considered toxic to humans. There are no significant reports of toxicity or poisoning in humans from the ingestion or contact with this plant. However, as a general safety precaution, it's still advisable not to ingest parts of ornamental plants because individual sensitivities can vary.
- To pets
  Butterfly Bush is also not known to be toxic to pets. It does not appear on the list of plants that are commonly known to be poisonous to cats, dogs, or other domestic animals. Therefore, ingestion of its parts is unlikely to cause poisoning in pets. Nonetheless, it's always prudent to discourage pets from chewing on any non-food plants to prevent any potential stomach upset or an unexpected allergic reaction.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Blue
- Height
  3 feet (0.91 meters)
- Spread
  3 feet (0.91 meters)
- Plant type
  Shrub
- Hardiness zones
  5
- Native area
  China

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attracts Wildlife: The Buddleia Adonis Blue is popular for attracting butterflies and bees, enhancing biodiversity in gardens.
- Low Maintenance: This plant is easy to care for, requiring minimal upkeep once established.
- Drought Tolerant: The Buddleia Adonis Blue can withstand dry conditions, making it suitable for xeriscaping or areas with water restrictions.
- Fast Growing: It has a rapid growth rate, which makes it ideal for quickly filling in landscapes or for use as a privacy screen.
- Colorful Blooms: The plant produces vibrant blue flowers that add a splash of color to garden settings.
- Pleasant Fragrance: The flowers emit a sweet scent that can be enjoyed during the blooming season.
- Extended Blooming Period: Buddleia Adonis Blue flowers from early summer to autumn, providing a long season of interest.
- Urban Tolerant: It is resilient in urban environments and can cope with pollution.
- Compact Size: As a cultivated variety, it remains relatively small, making it suitable for gardens with limited space.
- Deciduous Nature: Its deciduous habit ensures that it adds seasonal interest throughout the year.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Butterfly attraction in educational environments: Buddleja davidii can be planted in school gardens or educational centers to facilitate learning about pollinators and the role of butterfly-attracting plants in ecosystems.
- Natural art supplies: The flowers of the Butterfly Bush can be used to make natural dyes for fabrics or artistic projects, offering a range of purples and blues.
- Photography: The vibrant colors and butterfly-attracting properties of the plant make it a great subject for nature photography, helping enthusiasts to capture stunning images of pollinators in action.
- Garden theming: The plant can be used to create a 'blue-themed' garden area, where various plants with blue flowers are grouped together to create a visually striking display.
- Plant-based crafts: Dried flowers of the Butterfly Bush can be incorporated into handmade wreaths or potpourri mixes, providing color and a light fragrance.
- Companion planting for vegetable gardens: By attracting pollinators, Buddleja davidii can indirectly benefit nearby vegetable plots by ensuring better pollination and potentially increased yields.
- Seasonal screen: The plant can be used in landscapes to create a temporary privacy screen during the summer months when it is in full leaf and bloom.
- Urban greening projects: Butterfly Bush can be incorporated into city landscaping to add greenery and support local biodiversity within urban environments.
- Wildlife habitat creation: Buddleja davidii can be included in wild garden areas or on the edges of property to support insects and birds by providing food and shelter.
- Eco-friendly decoration: For eco-conscious events, branches and flowers of the Butterfly Bush can adorn venues, offering a sustainable decor option that can be composted after use.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
Butterfly Bush is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
Butterfly Bush is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Renewal: Buddleja davidii, commonly known as Butterfly Bush, has the ability to regenerate quickly and robustly from harsh conditions, symbolizing new beginnings and the capacity to bounce back from adversity.
- Attraction: The Butterfly Bush is well-known for its ability to attract butterflies, symbolizing allure and the capability to draw in what is desired.
- Inspiration: With its vibrant colors and association with butterflies, this plant represents finding inspiration and fostering creativity, as it prompts the onlooker to admire nature's beauty.
- Transformation: As butterflies go through a transformative process from caterpillar to winged beauty, the Butterfly Bush symbolizes change and the journey towards a more beautiful state of being.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 3-5 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring to early summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
For the Butterfly Bush, water deeply once a week, providing about 1-2 gallons for established plants, less for new plantings. Adjust the amount of water depending on weather conditions; reduce watering in rainy periods and increase it during hot, dry spells. It's important to avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot. Instead, water at the base of the plant early in the morning to allow foliage to dry out over the day, reducing the risk of disease.
Light
The Butterfly Bush thrives best in full sun, which means it needs at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. Position it in a spot where it can get unfiltered sunlight to encourage optimal growth and blooming. While it can tolerate some light shade, too much shade can lead to reduced flowering and a leggy growth habit.
Temperature
The Butterfly Bush is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, withstanding temperatures as low as -20°F and as high as 100°F. The ideal temperature range for this plant is between 60°F and 85°F. Providing adequate mulch can help protect the plant's roots from extreme cold and heat.
Pruning
Pruning the Butterfly Bush promotes healthy growth and abundant blooming. Prune in late winter or early spring, cutting back the previous year’s growth to about a foot from the ground. This timing allows for the natural growth cycle of the plant, leading to lush foliage and flowers in the following season.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Butterfly Bush requires well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. The best mix should include loamy soil, compost, and sharp sand to ensure drainage and fertility for optimal growth.
Repotting
Butterfly Bush ('Adokeep') typically doesn't need frequent repotting and should be repotted every 2-3 years or when it becomes pot-bound.
Humidity & Misting
Butterfly Bush thrives in moderate humidity conditions and is quite adaptable, not requiring special humidity considerations.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Use bright light and well-draining soil for Butterfly Bush indoors.
- Outdoor
  Plant in well-drained soil, full sun for optimal flowering.
- Hardiness zone
  5-9 USDA
Life cycle
Buddleja davidii 'Adokeep', commonly known as Butterfly Bush 'Adonis Blue', starts its life cycle when seeds germinate in the spring, given sufficient warmth and moisture. The seedlings emerge, and young plants spend a growing season establishing a robust root system and foliage. In the following year, the perennial nature of the Butterfly Bush becomes apparent as it resprouts from its base, producing long, arching branches adorned with elongated leaves. During the summer, it enters the flowering stage, characterized by the production of conical clusters of vibrant blue or purple flowers, which attract numerous pollinators, especially butterflies. As the flowering period ends in late summer to autumn, the plant sets seeds, which can disperse in the environment to propagate new individuals. During the winter, the plant exhibits dormancy, with above-ground parts dying back to the ground in colder climates, while the roots survive to regenerate the following spring.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring to early summer
- Buddleja davidii 'Adonis Blue', commonly known as Butterfly Bush, is most commonly propagated through semi-hardwood cuttings. This method typically takes place during the summer months when the plant has partially matured wood from the current season's growth. To do so, a gardener would select a healthy portion of semi-hardwood, cutting a length of 4 to 6 inches (approximately 10 to 15 centimeters) which includes several leaf nodes. After making a clean cut below a node, the leaves on the lower half are removed, and the cutting is often dipped in rooting hormone to encourage root development. The prepared cutting is then planted in a well-draining propagation medium and kept under conditions of high humidity and indirect light until roots have established, a process that may take several weeks.