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Buddleja davidii (Purple Flower)
| Family Name: | Scrophulariaceae |
| Common Name: | Purple Butterfly Bush |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Weeping / Pendulous |
Biogeography
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
|---|---|
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a woody shrub with a weeping form. It is semi-evergreen in tropical climates. It normally grows to a height of 3 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | The leaves are oppositely arranged along the stems, lance-shaped and often have a serrate leaf margin, leaf blade measuring 1.5 - 2.5 cm long. The leaf is green on top, but whitish with downy hairs on the bottom. |
| Stems | Arching stem. Stem is four-sided. |
| Flowers | Dark purple flowers borne in spike-like clusters, either terminal or axillary. Each flower is small and trumpet-shaped. |
| Fruit | Dehiscent, dry fruit is known as a capsule (8 mm long). Fruit is narrowly ellipsoid or ovoid. One seedling can produce about 3 million seeds in one year. |
| Habitat | Commonly grown on mountain slopes, forest clearings, and stream banks. |
| Cultivation | This species is easy-to-grow and requires little maintenance. Plant this species in well-drained soil. It grows best on nutrient rich soils, but also tolerates nutrient poor soils. This species grows aggressively, so control its spread by removing spent flowers before they produce seeds. |
| Etymology | The genus Buddleja is named after Reverend Adam Buddle (1660 – 1715), who is an English vicar and botanist of Farnbridge. The specific epithet "davidii" was named after a French Jesuit missionary named Pere Armand David (1826 - 1900) who enjoyed studying nature. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | This species is ideal for butterfly gardens as its fragrant flowers will attract butterflies seeking for nectar. Large specimens should be placed in the background. Consider planting this species alongside other butterfly nectar plants such as Pentas lanceolata, Lantana camara, and Stachytarpheta indica. You should also include host plants like Calotropis gigantea and Asclepias curassavica. This species can also be planted as a hedge or border. |
|---|---|
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Butterfly-Attracting |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Propagation Method | Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Drought / Semi-Deciduous |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Lanceolate) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Serrate / Toothed |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Rounded / Obtuse |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Purple |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Individual Flower Shape | Trumpet-shaped |
| Inflorescence Type | Spike |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 441 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 1737 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
