Who would think that this plant with its delightful name would become an environmental weed?

Arching stems carry sprays of tiny gold throated, mauve flowers in spring and summer and is attractive to butterflies.

It was also very popular as a quick growing privacy plant, however there are now many better, non invasive alternatives.

Buddleias are usually summer flowering shrubs and a bit too vigorous for the average garden, however, here is a smaller one which flowers from the middle of winter through to spring. With masses of long slender stems of white flowers with a delicious fragrance. It can be grown in full sun or part shade, grows quickly and will tolerate quite dry conditions when established. A non invasive hybrid.

This deciduous Buddleia is a shrub growing to 2m wide by 3m high. It is a relatively recent introduction and is an Australian-raised variety.

It bears elongated spikes of yellow flowers, in late summerautumn and is also Butterfly attracting.

A sturdy evergreen shrub to 6m high by 4m wide, with large showy, Purple-violet flowers in autumn. An ideal feature plant or use as a colourful hedge.

There are numerous selected varieties available which offer variable flower colour and heights. Ask at your local garden centre for the best local varieties.