Buddleja davidii
Butterfly bush, summer lilac, Summer Lilac
(c) Jon Sullivan, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Scrophulariaceae · Type: Shrub · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Buddleja davidii (Butterfly bush) is a non-native California shrub in the Scrophulariaceae family, recognized by large panicles and white leaf undersides.
Butterfly bush is a naturalized shrub found in the Klamath Ranges and San Francisco Bay Area in disturbed, generally damp soil at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces lilac to purple flowers with a central orange spot in slender, cylindric panicle-like clusters up to 25 centimeters long. Growing as a deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub up to 5 meters tall with sparse branched hairs on dark green upper leaf surfaces, it has a distinctive appearance. Its lanceolate leaves are 5 to 30 centimeters long, with serrate to nearly entire margins and dense white branched hairs on the lower leaf surface. The small fruit is 5 to 6 millimeters long, with seeds that are winged at both ends.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 0 sympatric species; distinguished by large panicles and white leaf undersides
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed, generally +- damp soil
Elevation: < 200 m
Outside California: native to China
Bloom period
Buddleja davidii blooms May-Sep.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Salvia: Buddleja has 4 stamens and densely hairy leaves; Salvia has 2 stamens and square stems.; vs Artemisia: Buddleja has showy tubular flowers; Artemisia has tiny inconspicuous flower heads.; vs Lantana: Buddleja flowers have united petals in a tube; Lantana flowers sit separately in flat-topped clusters.; vs Ceanothus: Buddleja has fuzzy opposite leaves and tubular flowers; Ceanothus has alternate leaves and tiny flowers.; vs Syringa: Buddleja flowers have 4 stamens and open salverform corollas; Syringa has 2 stamens and denser panicles.
Frequently asked questions
Is Buddleja davidii native to California?
No. Buddleja davidii is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Buddleja davidii bloom?
Buddleja davidii blooms May-Sep.
What plant family does Buddleja davidii belong to?
Buddleja davidii is in the Scrophulariaceae family, genus Buddleja.
Is Buddleja davidii invasive in California?
Buddleja davidii is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
What habitat does Buddleja davidii grow in?
Buddleja davidii grows in Disturbed, generally +- damp soil.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.