Overview
Buddleia Grand cascade also referred to as cascade butterfly bush features showy panicles of fragrant lavender flowers with purple overtones at the ends of branches from mid-summer to early fall. This plant grows to about 6 feet tall at maturity with a spread of 8 feet. It grows at relatively fast rate and under good growing conditions and care; the plant can last for approximately 15 years.
Buddleia is a relatively low maintenance shrub. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations and should do just fine under average home landscape condition. It attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden.
Plant Profile
| Botanical Name | Buddleia davidii Grand Cascade |
| Common Name | Butterfly Bush |
| Plant Type | Shrub |
| Bloom Color | Lavender |
| Foliage color | Green, silver |
| Light requirements | Full sun, partial shade |
| Average Height | 60-72’’ |
| Spacing | 7-8 feet |
| Soil Type | Moist, well-drained |
| Bloom Time | Summer and fall |
| Resistance | Deer, drought, rabbit |
| Water requirements | Average |
| USDA Cold Hardiness Zones | 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 |
| Soil PH Range | Acidic, mildly acidic to neutral |
| Fertilizer Application | Late winter, early spring until about mid-summer |
| Growth rate | Moderate |
| Attracts | Butterflies, bees and hummingbirds |
| Garden uses | Banks and slopes, beds and borders, patio and containers |
How To Grow And Care For Buddleia ‘Grand Cascade’
Light Requirement
Buddleias thrives vibrantly in areas with full sunlight exposure that is, at 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. This plant can also survive in partial shade especially in hot summer climates where partial shade helps the plant to last longer.
Soil
Buddleias prefer moist, organic, fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic soil with a PH of 5.0-6.5. Buddleias are highly susceptible to stem and root rot, therefore you need to avoid planting buddleias in low lying areas or soggy sites where soils are generally heavy clay or waterlogged.
Watering
Buddleias are drought tolerant and therefore do not require a lot of water during their period of growth. When growing Buddleias in containers or garden bed, you need to water it at least once per week to keep the soil evenly moist or alternatively water only when the soil feels dry.
Fertilizer
Buddleia usually grows effectively in moderately fertile soil types. This plant generally requires no feeding, especially if you are mulching over the root zone. When growing in alkaline soils, occasionally feeding with an acid fertilizer may be beneficial to the plant.
Temperature & Humidity
Buddleias generally does well in climate conditions throughout its hardiness range (zones 5-9), but winter damage to the blooms may occur in the colder part of the range especially with young shrubs. Buddleia is also tolerant to high humidity and temperature.
Pruning
Buddleia is a perennial plant and therefore pruning may not be necessary. Should pruning become necessary either to shape the plant or reduce size, prune shortly after the shrub flowers.
Popular Buddleia Varieties
- Buddleia ‘white profusion’
- Buddleia ‘black knight’
- Buddleia ‘Sungold’
- Buddleia flower power
- Buddleia Nanho blue
- Yellow buddleia