Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Buddleja davidii 'Empire Blue' (Butterfly bush 'Empire Blue')
Comment on a listing
Plant supplier links
- Login to upload a photo
2 hours care
per year
per year
4m
Max height
Max height
4m
Max spread
Max spread
5-10 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Buddleja davidii 'Empire Blue'
Other names
Butterfly bush 'Empire Blue', Buddleia 'Empire Blue', Buddlea 'Empire Blue'
Genus
Buddleja Buddleja
Variety or Cultivar
'Empire Blue' _ 'Empire Blue' is a large deciduous shrub with arching branches, lance-shaped leaves, and panicles of scented pale-blue flowers.
Buddleia are nectar rich plants, which encourage benefical wildlife, such as ladybirds, lacewings and hoverflies into the garden
Buddleja davidii 'Empire Blue' is: Deciduous
Fragrance
The flowers are sweetly fragrant.
Habit
Arching, Branching, Bushy, Irregular
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Flower
Blue, Pale-purple in Summer; Blue, Pale-purple in Autumn
Foliage
Grey-green, White in Summer
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Capsid bug , Caterpillars , Glasshouse red spider mite Capsid bug , Caterpillars , Glasshouse red spider mite
General care
Pruning
The panicles turn brown, so deadhead as they fade to improve appearance.
Propagation methods
Semi-hardwood cuttings
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Buddleja davidii 'Empire Blue' (Butterfly bush 'Empire Blue') will reach a height of 4m and a spread of 4m after 5-10 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Bees (attract & feed bees), Cottage/Informal, Drought Tolerant, Instant, Low Maintenance, Resistant to pollution, Wildflower
Cultivation
Tolerates many situations, but grows best in a sunny, well-drained situation.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
Plant with other fast-growing plants for an instant garden
Botanical name
Buddleja davidii 'Empire Blue'
Other names
Butterfly bush 'Empire Blue', Buddleia 'Empire Blue', Buddlea 'Empire Blue'
Genus
Buddleja Buddleja
Variety or Cultivar
'Empire Blue' _ 'Empire Blue' is a large deciduous shrub with arching branches, lance-shaped leaves, and panicles of scented pale-blue flowers.
Buddleia are nectar rich plants, which encourage benefical wildlife, such as ladybirds, lacewings and hoverflies into the garden
Foliage
Deciduous
Fragrance
The flowers are sweetly fragrant.
Habit
Arching, Branching, Bushy, Irregular
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Blue, Pale-purple in Summer; Blue, Pale-purple in Autumn
Foliage
Grey-green, White in Summer
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Capsid bug , Caterpillars , Glasshouse red spider mite
General care
Pruning
The panicles turn brown, so deadhead as they fade to improve appearance.
Propagation methods
Semi-hardwood cuttings
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Buddleja davidii 'Empire Blue' (Butterfly bush 'Empire Blue') will reach a height of 4m and a spread of 4m after 5-10 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Bees (attract & feed bees), Cottage/Informal, Drought Tolerant, Instant, Low Maintenance, Resistant to pollution, Wildflower
Cultivation
Tolerates many situations, but grows best in a sunny, well-drained situation.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained, Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
COMPANION PLANTS
Plant with other fast-growing plants for an instant garden
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login