Buddleia alternifolia
Common name: 
Alternate-leaf Butterfly Bush
Fountain Butterfly Bush
Pronunciation: 
bud-LEE-a al-ter-ni-FO-li-a
Family: 
Scrophulariaceae
Genus: 
Buddleia
Synonyms: 
Buddleja alternifolia
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Broadleaf deciduous large shrub or small tree, may reach 30 ft (9 m) high, but usually less, stems slender, long, arching/pendulous.  Leaves simple, alternate, lanceolate, 1-7 cm long (smallest on floral branches), tip pointed (acuminate), base wedge-shaped, margin entire, dark green to silvery green, gray tomentose below.  Flowers small, lilac-colored, mildly fragrant, borne in nearly cylindrical clusters, about 5 × 3 cm.  Blooms in early summer.
  • Full sun to light shade.  Thrives in poor, dry gravel soils.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 5     Native to China.
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit, flowering branches

    plant habit, flowering branches

  • flower cluter and flowers

    flower cluter and flowers

  • leafy shoot

    leafy shoot

  • plant habit, after flowering

    plant habit, after flowering