Zone 10 butterfly (buddleia) bushes?

[Maximum]

Greetings from Ft Myers, FL 

Anyone ever try growing varieties of butterfly bushes here in zone 10? 
Tell me about it! I’m wondering which ones can handle the heat of the summers and the warmth of the winters. I’m hoping there are a few?! Davidii?! Etc.? 

[Silas_Sancona]

  On 11/4/2023 at 2:55 PM, Maximum said:

Greetings from Ft Myers, FL 

Anyone ever try growing varieties of butterfly bushes here in zone 10? 
Tell me about it! I’m wondering which ones can handle the heat of the summers and the warmth of the winters. I’m hoping there are a few?! Davidii?! Etc.? 

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Can't speak for the standard davidii types ..from what i remember, they didn't last too long, and that was just north of you in Bradenton / Sarasota.. There may be -more obscure-  species, like B. domingensis,  and / or madagascariensis  from tropical parts of the globe that could work there, but those will be harder to track down. Won't be as colorful as the " traditional " types though either.

We have a couple types here but they probably would not like the excessive humidity there.. Also aren't as colorful as the davidii types ( which also are challenging to grow here / don't last long when planted )

If your goal for planting them is attracting butterflies,  there are a ton of natives / near natives that are butterfly magnets..  Several resources online regarding which to choose, both as host plants, and those for adults ( ..as a nectar source )

One thing i will add: ..Pentas, the popular bedding plant you probably see in all the big box / other garden centers?  " Showier " newer types often lack nectar ( Were actually bred to reduce nectar produced ) so, ..it might be harder to find, but, would seek out the " older ", less intensely hybridized forms of those ...if interested in adding them for seasonal color. 

 

[Philipp]

Interesting question. I habe seen Buddleja davidii growing in southern Tunesia.

There is also Buddleja cordata from Mexico which might be a possibility? 

 

Cheers,

Philipp 

[Maximum]

  On 11/4/2023 at 3:45 PM, Silas_Sancona said:

Can't speak for the standard davidii types ..from what i remember, they didn't last too long, and that was just north of you in Bradenton / Sarasota.. There may be -more obscure-  species, like B. domingensis,  and / or madagascariensis  from tropical parts of the globe that could work there, but those will be harder to track down. Won't be as colorful as the " traditional " types though either.

We have a couple types here but they probably would not like the excessive humidity there.. Also aren't as colorful as the davidii types ( which also are challenging to grow here / don't last long when planted )

If your goal for planting them is attracting butterflies,  there are a ton of natives / near natives that are butterfly magnets..  Several resources online regarding which to choose, both as host plants, and those for adults ( ..as a nectar source )

One thing i will add: ..Pentas, the popular bedding plant you probably see in all the big box / other garden centers?  " Showier " newer types often lack nectar ( Were actually bred to reduce nectar produced ) so, ..it might be harder to find, but, would seek out the " older ", less intensely hybridized forms of those ...if interested in adding them for seasonal color. 

 

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The main reason I like Buddleias is because of their flowers and growth habit. Though I do appreciate the butterflies they attract. I’ll have to look into those tropical varieties you mentioned. 

Edited November 4, 2023 by Maximum

[Maximum]

  On 11/4/2023 at 6:04 PM, Philipp said:

Interesting question. I habe seen Buddleja davidii growing in southern Tunesia.

There is also Buddleja cordata from Mexico which might be a possibility? 

 

Cheers,

Philipp 

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Wow!! That’s fascinating. Online it says Tunesia has a Mediterranean climate. Is that correct?  

[Calosphace]

Most Buddleia are highly susceptible to nematodes here and not worth it unfortunately. There's one at work that does ok but it's a huge rather gangly specimen I would never recommend for a home landscape and doesnt share the nice scent of B. davidii nor is it that attractive to butterflies. it's not silver anniversary as it has broader leaves but some other hairy leaf variety.

In 9b+ FL my go to replacement for B. davidii I tell everyone is: Sweet almond verbena let it be a multi trunk small tree and underplant with Duranta erecta (NOT the yellow leaf form but one of the nicely pigmented violet flowering ones). Just about everything visits Duranta, hummers, butterflies, native bees. Sweet almond verbena has the pleasant scent. I love the smell of butterfly bush and have tried in vain to grow them in containers on cinder blocks but it just wasn't worth the effort

Tall red pentas (heirloom), Mexican bush pentas, Privet Cassia (native evergreen host plant for sulphurs), Porterweed [in your region plant Coral porterweed or genuine native porterweed, avoid S. cayennsis as it is an aggressive reseeder), and Firebush are all amazing attractors too. heirloom tall Zinnia are easy from seed and can be used as landscape matures.

Layer Sweet almond verbena, firebush, and/or Privet cassia with Corkystem passion vine which is species that plays better with others and will bring in Zebra longwings.

Oh and I get great usage from Chaya/Mayan spinach tree. It is a gorgeous plant when grown as a small tree, great foliage and a favorite nectar source of zebra longwings. photos online do not do it justice

[JohnAndSancho]

We have a couple here in 8A, no idea what species but they look awful due to neglect and grass growing through them. 

[Maximum]

  On 11/4/2023 at 10:51 PM, Calosphace said:

Most Buddleia are highly susceptible to nematodes here and not worth it unfortunately. There's one at work that does ok but it's a huge rather gangly specimen I would never recommend for a home landscape and doesnt share the nice scent of B. davidii nor is it that attractive to butterflies. it's not silver anniversary as it has broader leaves but some other hairy leaf variety.

In 9b+ FL my go to replacement for B. davidii I tell everyone is: Sweet almond verbena let it be a multi trunk small tree and underplant with Duranta erecta (NOT the yellow leaf form but one of the nicely pigmented violet flowering ones). Just about everything visits Duranta, hummers, butterflies, native bees. Sweet almond verbena has the pleasant scent. I love the smell of butterfly bush and have tried in vain to grow them in containers on cinder blocks but it just wasn't worth the effort

Tall red pentas (heirloom), Mexican bush pentas, Privet Cassia (native evergreen host plant for sulphurs), Porterweed [in your region plant Coral porterweed or genuine native porterweed, avoid S. cayennsis as it is an aggressive reseeder), and Firebush are all amazing attractors too. heirloom tall Zinnia are easy from seed and can be used as landscape matures.

Layer Sweet almond verbena, firebush, and/or Privet cassia with Corkystem passion vine which is species that plays better with others and will bring in Zebra longwings.

Oh and I get great usage from Chaya/Mayan spinach tree. It is a gorgeous plant when grown as a small tree, great foliage and a favorite nectar source of zebra longwings. photos online do not do it justice

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Thanks for recommending other plants that do well in my zone. They sound great

[Maximum]

  On 11/4/2023 at 10:55 PM, JohnAndSancho said:

We have a couple here in 8A, no idea what species but they look awful due to neglect and grass growing through them. 

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That’s sad 😞 Some people don’t see the potential in the plants they have! 

[Calosphace]

No problem, best of luck. I really think you'll like the Duranta it has a similar almost cascading bush habit as butterfly bush (though it can be more inclined to trunk over time if trained) and a very long bloom period. It is what I chose after killing my fifth butterfly bush lol.

shame in past few years it is hard to find Duranta that aren't the yellow leaf one which doesnt flower hardly at all and flowers are a dull lavender. if you have issues sourcing i do know of good online stores but hopefully south FL has more variety

[JohnAndSancho]

  On 11/4/2023 at 11:11 PM, Maximum said:

That’s sad 😞 Some people don’t see the potential in the plants they have! 

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To be fair, it's my mom and brothers house and they're both disabled. But the plants do look like garbage. 

[Maximum]

  On 11/4/2023 at 11:12 PM, Calosphace said:

No problem, best of luck. I really think you'll like the Duranta it has a similar almost cascading bush habit as butterfly bush (though it can be more inclined to trunk over time if trained) and a very long bloom period. It is what I chose after killing my fifth butterfly bush lol.

shame in past few years it is hard to find Duranta that aren't the yellow leaf one which doesnt flower hardly at all and flowers are a dull lavender. if you have issues sourcing i do know of good online stores but hopefully south FL has more variety

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Cool. I think I’ve seen the green leaf variety around 😁

Edited November 4, 2023 by Maximum

[Maximum]

  On 11/4/2023 at 11:19 PM, JohnAndSancho said:

To be fair, it's my mom and brothers house and they're both disabled. But the plants do look like garbage. 

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Oh gotcha that makes sense given the context and I hope they’re happy and healthy!