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BUDDLEJA DAVIDII

 

TAXONOMIC STATUS

 

Scientific name:Buddleja davidii Franchet

Family:              Buddlejaceae

English name:   Butterfly bush, summer lilac

German name:  Schmetterlingsstrauch, Sommerflieder

French name:    Buddléa de David, arbre aux papillons

Italian name:     Buddleja

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Description and identification

Life form Deciduous shrub.   

​​A much-branched deciduous shrub up to 5 m tall with long, arching branches and opposite leaves.
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Leaves​: lanceolate to narrowly ovate, 10-25 cm long, white tomentose beneath, with serrate

margins and petioles 2-5 mm long. Inflorescence's are long pyramidal and dense panicles of 10-25

cm length. The pale lilac to deep violet flowers are 8-13 mm long and have corollas with four lobes

and an orange center. Fruits are capsules of c. 10 mm length that contain numerous seeds. Seeds

are long-winged at both ends and 2-4 mm long. The shrub is short-lived with individuals up to the

age of 37 years having been recorded. Flowering period: July-August.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Biology and ecology

Invaded habitats Riparian habitats, gravel shores, railway embankments, quarries, forest edges, vacant lots in

urban areas.

Ecology and spread B. davidii is a highly successful colonizer. The plant prefers poor and well-drained soils and is

resistant to drought. B. davidii also likes full sun, but it can tolerate some shade.

In China B.davidii grows at a much higher altitude than in any of the invaded regions in the world. When cut

back, B. davidii sprouts vigorously. It also tolerates burial by alluvial deposition by producing

adventitious roots and shoots. Dispersal and colonization are by seeds. Each shrub can produce

up to 3 million seeds. One-year old plants can flower and produce seeds that are dispersed by

wind and water. Colonization of disturbed areas is very quick, within 1-2 years.

Origin: ​South-western China.

​     Distribution in Europe Widespread in most western European countries. Invasive, e.g. in the UK, France and Spain. Also

a potential invasive species in Austria. It is regarded as invasive in North America and New Zealand, too.

Environmental Impacts

Because of its high dispersal potential by seeds, it tends to colonize modified or disturbed habitats

before any native species. Initial growth rate is high, and this also suppresses native pioneer

species.

Management options

If established plants are removed, the stumps should be either removed as well or treated with a

glyphosate herbicide, because the shrub can regrow from cut roots. Seedlings and smaller plants

can be hand-pulled or dug out.

Distribution in CH Present in the lowlands of most of the country. More common south of the Alps and around

Genève and Basel. On the Black List of invasive species of the CPS-SKEW working group.

Distribution in Zurich:

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​​ ​​Sommerflieder (Buddleja davidii)