Buddleja americana: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Flowers are used to make fabric dyes
Plant Profile: Buddleja americana
Names
Butterfly Bush
Phonetic Spelling:
Genus:Buddleja
Species:americana
Family:Scrophulariaceae
Buddleja Americana is native to a range that extends from Mexico through Central America and along the Pacific coastline of South America, reaching as far as Northern Bolivia. Additionally, it can be found in Jamaica, Cuba, and the Galapagos Islands. This woody shrub thrives in diverse environments, including oak and pine forests, rocky inclines, riparian zones, open fields, roadside areas, mountain savannas, and cloud forests. It flourishes at low to mid-elevations, typically from sea level up to 2,500 meters. However, it is sensitive to cold temperatures and is easily damaged or killed by frost.
Buddleja americana Feature Summary
Buddleja americana Image Gallery
Tags
#small tree
#white flowers
#shrub
#gray leaves
#frost tender
#riparian
#erosion control
#stream banks
#tropical perennial
#tender perennial
#dye plant
#fields
#mountains
#forests
#greenhouse
#rocky soils tolerant
#butterfly friendly
#tropical tree
#roadside
#butterfly garden
#stormwater demo garden orange co
Similar Plants
Buddleja americana Feature Summary
Attributes
Flowers are used to make fabric dyes
Native to Mexico, tropical America (Caribbean and Pacific coast)
Altitudes of 1190 - 3400 meters in the Andes, Sierra Nevada de Maria
This plant attracts butterflies.
Perennial
Woody
Attracts Pollinators
Fruit
winged seeds
Samara
Flowers
The inflorescences are 2-10 inches long, with one or two orders of branches. The flowers are cymules, the short (< .1 inch) corollas yellow inside and white outside.
White
Spike
Cyme
Fragrant
Funnel
Bell
< 1 inch
Leaves
Narrow grey-green with pale hairs
Broadleaf Evergreen
Green
Gray/Silver
Simple
Opposite
Elliptical
Ovate
Lanceolate
Entire
Serrate
Crenulate
3-6 inches
Soft
Velvety
1-3 inches
Bark
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Tree
Broadleaf Evergreen
Arching
Multi-stemmed
Rapid
Low
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
9a
9b
10a
10b
11a
11b
12a
12b
13a
13b
Stem
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Cottage Garden
Accent
Specimen
Small Tree
Heat
Humidity
Erosion
Woodland
Meadow
Slope/Bank
Riparian
Butterflies
Pollinators
Short-lived
Buddleja americana Image Gallery
Buddleja americana Attributes
Buddleja americana: Country Or Region Of Origin
Native to Mexico, tropical America (Caribbean and Pacific coast)
Buddleja americana: Distribution
Altitudes of 1190 - 3400 meters in the Andes, Sierra Nevada de Maria
Buddleja americana: Wildlife Value
This plant attracts butterflies.
Buddleja americana: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Buddleja americana: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Buddleja americana Fruit
Buddleja americana: Fruit Description
winged seeds
Buddleja americana: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Buddleja americana Flowers
Buddleja americana: Flower Description
The inflorescences are 2-10 inches long, with one or two orders of branches. The flowers are cymules, the short (< .1 inch) corollas yellow inside and white outside.
Buddleja americana: Flower Color
White
Buddleja americana: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Buddleja americana: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Buddleja americana: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Buddleja americana: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Buddleja americana Leaves
Buddleja americana: Leaf Description
Narrow grey-green with pale hairs
Buddleja americana: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Buddleja americana: Leaf Color
Gray/Silver
Green
Buddleja americana: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Buddleja americana: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Buddleja americana: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Buddleja americana: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Buddleja americana: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Buddleja americana: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Buddleja americana: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Buddleja americana: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Buddleja americana Bark
Buddleja americana: Bark Description
light brown fissured bark.
Buddleja americana: Bark Color
Light Brown
Buddleja americana: Surface/Attachment
Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy
Buddleja americana Whole Plant Traits
Buddleja americana: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Buddleja americana: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Buddleja americana: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Buddleja americana: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Buddleja americana: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Buddleja americana Cultural Conditions
Buddleja americana: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Buddleja americana: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Buddleja americana: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
10a
10b
11a
11b
12a
12b
13a
13b
9a
9b
Buddleja americana Stem
Buddleja americana: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Buddleja americana Landscape
Buddleja americana: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Buddleja americana: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Buddleja americana: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Buddleja americana: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Buddleja americana: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Buddleja americana: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
