However, butterfly bushes not only draw in pollinators but come with significant downsides as well.
We all enjoy watching butterflies flutter around our gardens, which is why the butterfly bush has been popular for many years.
Buddleia davidii
) has long been cherished as an attractive plant for these flying visitors. Its aromatic, nectar-rich flower spikes come in shades of purple, pink, and white.
butterfly magnets
, exactly as advertised. Although this Chinese native appeared to be a suitable plant for a
pollinator-friendly landscape
It has turned into a contentious plant due to various factors. Consider these points before deciding to grow butterfly bushes in your garden.
Meet Our Expert
Georgia Parkinson Hill
serves as a horticulturist, garden planner, and proprietor of Beautyberry Gardens, a native landscaping business based in Atlanta, Georgia.
What Makes Butterfly Bushes Undesirable?
In addition to
attracting pollinators
Butterfly bushes develop rapidly, bloom early in their lifecycle, and thrive under challenging conditions—qualities typically sought after in garden plants. However, they also come with three significant disadvantages that should be considered.
Butterfly Bush Is Invasive
At least seven states (North Carolina, Maryland, Oregon, Washington, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New Jersey) formally categorize butterfly bushes as an invasive species, with additional concerns arising in places like Ohio and Tennessee where they’re seen as a growing menace. Both Oregon and Washington classify these plants as Class B noxious weeds; moreover, Oregon restricts their sale to some extent.
Specialists indicate that butterfly bushes have the potential to become invasive virtually everywhere due to their high seed production, which disseminates via wind and water. As a result, these plants often leave managed landscapes such as yards or gardens, establish themselves in natural areas, and overshadow native species.
indigenous flora that offer sustenance and shelter
For indigenous insects, birds, and various forms of wildlife.
I am quite fond of the scent of butterfly bushes,” remarks Georgia Parkinson Hill, a horticulturrist, garden designer, and proprietor of Beautyberry Gardens located in Atlanta, Georgia. “This fragrance takes me back to my hometown in the United Kingdom, where these plants are extremely invasive. However, due to their invasiveness, I personally do not enjoy having them around.
Less Nutritious Nectar
The nectar of butterfly bushes contains high levels of sugar but lacks many essential nutrients needed for butterflies to flourish. While it provides an immediate burst of energy, these flowers do not offer as comprehensive nutrition as plants such as those listed below.
coneflowers
,
Joe-Pye weed
, and
bee balm
The nectar from a butterfly bush isn’t harmful to butterflies, but it’s not particularly beneficial to them either. Similarly, butterfly bush nectar is like sugary soda for humans—it may be appealing but doesn’t offer much nutritional value.
Not a Host Plant
Host plants offer crucial sustenance and refuge for young butterflies, known as caterpillars. An ideal butterfly host plant such as milkweed or passionflower draws adult females to deposit their eggs on these leaves. These plants subsequently supply particular nourishment that aids the caterpillar’s growth and metamorphosis into an adult butterfly.
“Host plants play an essential role in the lifecycle of butterflies,” explains Hill. “While butterfly bushes serve as a source of nectar, they do not function as host plants.” This implies that butterfly bushes aren’t beneficial for the reproduction of most North American butterfly species; instead, they merely provide these adult insects with a fleeting drink of low-nutrient nectar.
Butterfly bushes overshadow native plants that serve as hosts for butterflies,” Hill explains. “These bushes do not offer the right conditions for the butterflies.
How to Handle Butterfly Bushes
If you already have one or two butterfly bushes in your garden, do you remove them?” Hill states, “Not usually unless my clients ask me to.” He also mentions he doesn’t recommend including them when designing a new landscaping plan. Nonetheless, if you’re cultivating an old variety that spreads seeds abundantly and is labeled as invasive locally, it might be wise to take out your butterfly bush and opt for a more manageable alternative instead.
Alternatively, if you’re still keen on cultivating a butterfly bush, consider these methods to reduce its drawbacks:
Choose Less Invasive Varieties
There are
newer varieties
Of butterfly bushes that have been cultivated to generate fewer seeds, making them less prone to spreading into natural habitats. These are promoted as either sterile or low-fertility types and usually grow as smaller, more contained specimens compared to regular butterfly bushes. It’s important to remember though, these selected strains might still release pollen capable of cross-pollinating with and potentially enhancing the invasiveness of neighboring butterfly bush species.
The Pugster series from Proven Winners represents less invasive butterfly bush options, featuring full-sized blooms on a compact shrub. Also included among these choices are the Lo & Behold collection and the ‘Miss’ series. Another tall option is ‘Asian Moon,’ known for its white blossoms and reportedly low seed output.
Include Additional Butterfly Caterpillar Food Plants
An alternative approach to reduce the influence of butterfly bushes is to incorporate both host plants for butterflies and a butterfly bush in your garden. This method ensures habitats for various butterflies and moths, particularly those indigenous to North America.
Several suggested host plants encompass:
-
Milkweed
(
Asclepias
for example (spp.), the plant that serves as the host for the
monarch butterfly -
Parsley, dill,
golden Alexander
(
Zizia aurea
), and
fennel
, the host plants for the black swallowtail butterfly include -
Passionflower
(
Passiflora
the plant hosting the Gulf fritillary butterfly (spp.) -
Pipevine, also known as
Dutchman’s pipe
(
Aristolochia macrophylla
), the plant that serves as a host for pipevine swallowtail butterflies -
Spicebush (
Lindera benzoin
) and
sassafras
(
Sassafras albidum
) hosts for Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies
By cultivating various pollinator-friendly plants, you will provide both essential host plants for butterflies and other flying beings as well as an abundance of nectar. According to Hill, with this variety of flora, “You can create a robust ecosystem.”
habitat that’s much better
For butterflies, rather than a butterfly bush.”
Read the initial article on
Better Homes & Gardens
