Buddleia davidii 'Santana' - Santana Butterfly Bush

Santana Butterfly Bush

Buddleia davidii 'Santana'

Also called Summer Lilac

  • Long, upright panicles of fragrant, purple-red florets
  • Arching branches display variegated yellow and green leaves
  • Attractive to butterflies
  • Popular as a fresh cut flower
  • Bloom Time: Midsummer to mid-fall

ZONE:
5

COLOUR:
Red

HEIGHT:
150-200 cm

SPREAD:
120-150 cm

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Growing and Maintenance Tips:


Plant in a well-drained soil, in full sun. Removing spent flower spikes will promote additional blooming. Prune back in late winter to maintain shape, and encourage growth and flowering for the following season.

Additional Notes about Santana Butterfly Bush:


Invasive species.

Detractor: Butterfly Bush benefits pollinators at only one stage of their life cycle. It attracts butterflies because it provides copious nectar. However, butterflies need host plants on which to lay eggs and on which their caterpillars feed. Not a single native caterpillar eats Butterfly Bush leaves.  Its invasive tendencies displace native shrubs that are essential food sources for caterpillars which, if they don't feed birds, become butterflies.

Consider alternatives: Clethra alnifolia, Itea virginica, Syringa patula Miss Kim, Cephalanthus occidentalis, or perennials Liatris spicata, Echinacea, Asclepias spp, Eupatorium spp, Agastache, Monarda, Helenium.

Characteristics & Attributes


ATTRIBUTES:
Deciduous
FLOWERING TIME:
Summer
FOLIAGE COLOR:
Variegated
Green
Yellow
LANDSCAPE USES:
Specimen