Buddleia davidii 'Guinevere'

Guinevere Butterflybush, Orange-eye Butterflybush

uddleja davidii ‘Guinevere’ — commonly known as Guinevere Butterfly Bush — is a vigorous, classic deciduous butterfly bush valued for its rich, deep purple flower spikes with bright orange eyes. Blooming from mid-summer through fall, it provides strong color, fragrance, and exceptional pollinator appeal.

Key features
Width / spread: 6–8 ft
Height: 8–12 ft (easily controlled with annual pruning)
Flower color: Deep royal purple with orange eye
Bloom time: Mid-summer to fall
Foliage: Gray-green, lance-shaped leaves
Form: Upright with arching branches
Life cycle: Deciduous shrub

Growing conditions
Sun: Full sun (best flowering)
Soil: Well-drained; average to lean soils preferred
Water: Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established
Hardiness:



Zone Low: 5b



Zone High: 9a



Landscape use
Specimen shrub
Back of shrub or perennial borders
Butterfly and pollinator gardens
Informal screens or hedges
Large landscape plantings

Notes
Excellent flower color saturation, often compared to ‘Black Knight’ but slightly brighter purple
Blooms on new wood — prune hard in early spring
Fast growing in warm climates
Highly attractive to butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds
Fertile cultivar — may self-seed; restricted or discouraged in some regions

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Plant type

Flowering Shrub

Height

6'

Width

5'

Hardiness zones

5–9

Sunlight

Full Sun

Growth rate

Fast

Bloom time

Early Fall, Fall, Late Summer, Summer

Leaf color

Green

Fall color

Green

Attracts

Butterflies

Soil

Loamy well-drained

Landscape use

Accent Plant, Container, Mass Planting

Shape

Oval/Rounded

Bark

Exfoliating

Fruit

Yes

Fragrant

Yes

Deer resistant

Yes

Salt tolerant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No