Buddleia is often dismissed as a weedy shrub, spotted growing in cracks by railway tracks or abandoned car lots. But I think we should give more time to this flowering plant. Yes, it is tough and vigorous, but in a garden setting, it can be transformational.
As you might have guessed by the name, it is a magnet for pollinators. This is because the flowers produce copious amounts of nectar, so it is no wonder that butterflies, bees and other pollinators can't stay away. A few years back, I grew a dwarf variety called ‘Royal Purple’ in an old terracotta pot on a sunny London balcony. Planted alongside orange dahlias and pale yellow cosmos, it was a riotous scene. Loud and joyful, humming and buzzing with insect life.
