Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Loaded with large summer flowers, Black Knight Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii) should hold a special spot in your landscape. The shrub grows to a height of nearly 8 feet and almost 6 feet around. It's an easy-care addition to low-water, Mediterranean, cottage or natural garden styles. Each spring, rains bring rapid growth to butterfly bushes. Black Knight's long arching stems cascade downward, and the tips are filled with the large, cone-shaped flowers that average 4 to 10 inches long.
The large purple flowers of Black Knight Butterfly Bush actually are made up of many tiny deep purple blooms, each perfect for hummingbirds and butterflies gathering sweet nectar. The flowers are fragrant for humans to enjoy, too. Black Knight continues blooming throughout summer and into early fall. Deer and rabbits leave butterfly bushes alone. The drought-tolerant shrub comes back year after year in zones 5 through 9.
Black Knight Butterfly Bush Care
Black Knight Butterfly Bush is an easy shrub to grow, so it's a winner in most landscapes. Choose a sunny spot and soil that drains well; the shrub performs best with a little afternoon shade in hotter regions of zones 8 and 9. Be sure to plant your butterfly bush so the crown is just above the soil level once you water at the base. Cut the butterfly bush stems down to a few feet above the ground each spring when new growth appears at the bottom of the plant. There is no need to deadhead this beauty, but you can cut the flowers for arrangements.
Black Knight Butterfly Bush Spacing
Plant a colorful cascading border with several Black Knight Butterfly Bush for a butterfly gathering place in your landscape. Space the shrubs 5 to 6 feet apart from center to center to give them room to grow to full size.
Black Knight Butterfly Bush Plant Facts
| USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9 |
| Flower Color(s): Purple |
| Bloom Period: Midsummer through Fall |
| Foliage Color(s): Gray-green |
| Light Exposure: Full Sun |
| Height: 6-8 Feet |
| Spread: 4-6 Feet |
| Habit: Upright Spreading |
| Watering: Medium |
| Features: Showy Summer Flowers |
| Scientific Name: Buddleja davidii 'Black Knight' |
| Common Name: Black Knight Butterfly Bush |
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2025 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Pre-ordered plants are scheduled to ship in Spring 2025. We carefully plan our shipping dates based on your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone to ensure optimal planting conditions upon arrival. Want it sooner/later? Reach out, and we'll try our best to accommodate.
Estimated ship week for pre-ordered plants will ship based on growing zones as shown below.
| Growing Zone | Estimated Ship Week |
|---|---|
| Zone 10 | March 31th |
| Zone 9 | March 31st |
| Zone 8 | April 7th |
| Zone 7 | April 14th |
| Zone 6b | April 21st |
| Zone 6a | April 28th |
| Zone 5b | May 5th |
| Zone 5a | May 12th |
| Zone 4 | May 19th |
| Zone 3 | May 26th |
Note: These are only estimated ship dates. Plants may ship out later depending on weather & growing conditions of the plant.
Note: Only plants indicated as pre-order will ship as shown above. All other plants and hard goods will ship as normal.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AZ, CA, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA, AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!