Buddleia Purple Emperor

Purple Emperor Butterfly Bush

Buddleja davidii ‘Purple Emperor’ — commonly known as Purple Emperor Butterfly Bush — is a vigorous deciduous shrub valued for its deep royal-purple flower panicles, strong fragrance, and long bloom season. Blooming from mid-summer through fall, it provides bold color and exceptional pollinator activity, especially in larger landscape settings.

Key features
Width / spread: 6–8 ft (arching habit may appear slightly wider with age)
Height: 8–10 ft (can be maintained at 6–8 ft with annual pruning)
Flower color: Deep royal purple with orange eye
Bloom time: Mid-summer through fall
Foliage: Gray-green, lance-shaped leaves
Form: Upright, arching shrub
Life cycle: Deciduous shrub

Growing conditions
Sun: Full sun (required for best flowering and color saturation)
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 borders and perennial gardens
Butterfly and pollinator gardens
Informal hedges and screens
Large landscape plantings

Notes


Produces long, richly colored purple panicles with strong fragrance



Blooms on new wood — prune hard in early spring to control size and maximize flowering



Highly attractive to butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds



Fertile cultivar — may self-seed; restricted or discouraged in some regions

Plant type

Deciduous Shrub, Flowering Shrub

Height

5-6'

Width

4-5'

Hardiness zones

6–8

Sunlight

Full Sun

Growth rate

Fast

Bloom time

Early Fall, Fall, Late Summer, Summer

Leaf color

Green

Fall color

Green

Attracts

Butterflies

Soil

Loamy

Landscape use

Foundation

Shape

Mounded

Bark

Exfoliating

Fruit

Yes

Fragrant

Yes

Deer resistant

Yes

Salt tolerant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No