Buddleja davidii Wisteria Lane - Butterfly Bush

Buddleja davidii 'Wisteria Lane' is a new variety of butterfly bush with a dwarf wisteria-like appearance. It bears a unique habit that is both compact and weeping. In summer, it transforms into a fountain of lavender-mauve flowers, gathered in long, dense, trailing, and fragrant clusters, crowned with numerous butterflies attracted by their sweet scent. This plant is perfectly hardy, and not demanding in terms of soil and water. It can be adopted in almost all regions. Its relatively modest growth is well suited to small spaces and the ornamentation of terraces and balconies.

Buddleja davidii 'Wisteria Lane' is a horticultural hybrid obtained in 2011 in a nursery in Michigan, USA. Only its female parent, a non-commercial hybrid sowing, is known. This hybrid carries, among others, genes from David's Buddleja, also called Father David's Buddleja or Changing Buddleja, a robust Chinese species. Buddlejas belong to the Scrophulariaceae (Buddlejaceae) family.

'Wisteria Lane' is a deciduous bush with a weeping habit, slightly spreading and relatively compact. Of fairly rapid growth, it will reach about 1.2 m (3.9 ft) in height and 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in spread in 4 years, depending on growing conditions. Its adult size will not exceed 1.6 m (5.2 ft) in height. It produces flexible and arched branches that give it a bushy and distinctly weeping habit. Flowering takes place from July to September, in an abundance of dense and trailing panicles of flowers 20 cm to 30 cm (7.9 in to 11.8 in) long and 5 cm (2 in) wide. These flowers are light purple to lavender-mauve with an orange eye and release a sweet scent, highly sought after by pollinating insects (they contain substances collected by pollinating insects that will transform them into honey). Its highly ornamental foliage is composed of long lanceolate leaves measuring on average 12.5 cm (4.9 in) in length and 3 cm (1.2 in) in width. They are silver green in colour, with a greyish underside. This very hardy bush withstands urban pollution very well and does not suffer from occasional drought in deep soil.

Whether planted alone or in groups, in a hedge, border or at the back of a perennial bed, or even in a container on a terrace, Buddleja davidii 'Wisteria Lane' will beautify the garden in a unique way. Forming a fragrant mauve fountain animated by a constant flight of butterflies, it enhances all other flowering shrubs, especially pink, white, or purple roses. It pairs beautifully with a small clematis, both in open ground and in pots. You can also plant it in a free-standing hedge to separate themed areas in the garden. It adapts well to coastal areas and urban gardens. Its fragrant flowers are also very pretty in bouquets. For a striking scene, plant it above a wall, from where it will cascade beautifully.