Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Make your space a hot spot for butterflies with the Honeycomb Butterfly Bush or Buddleja x weyeriana 'Honeycomb’. Tiny golden-yellow flowers have an orange eye that adds an unexpected pop of color from summer through fall. The flowers bloom in cymes, cone-shaped clusters at a stem's end. The well-branched form allows for multiple flower clusters on one main stem. Silvery-green foliage fills the spaces around flowers, giving the shrub a full appearance.
Plant the Honeycomb Butterfly Bush in a row, creating a hedge or privacy screen. Add to a mixed bed in need of some bright yellow flowers. Trim the stems to display the flowers in an arrangement. This plant is a natural fit in a butterfly garden, but also attracts hummingbirds and bees. This low-maintenance shrub is drought and heat tolerant for added versatility in hot climates. The Honeycomb Butterfly Bush is deer resistant, making it a good pick for areas prone to damage from foraging animals. Grow this butterfly bush in zones 4 through 9.
Honeycomb Butterfly Bush Care
Plant the Honeycomb Butterfly Bush in a spot that receives full sun. This shrub can handle part shade but may set fewer blooms. The soil must be well drained, and preferably rich and moist. New plants need consistent water, while established plants only need water during an extended hot and dry period. Apply a slow-release fertilizer each spring.
In fall, avoid cutting back the shrub and apply a thick layer of mulch to insulate the roots from cold weather. Trim growth to a foot above ground level in early spring when new green buds appear.
Honeycomb Butterfly Bush Spacing
Mature Honeycomb Butterfly Bushes stand 6 to 10 feet tall and 5 to 8 feet wide. Space plants about 5 feet apart to create a full and dense wall of flowers.
Honeycomb Butterfly Bush Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 4 to 9 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Full Sun (6+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 6-10 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 5-8 Feet
- Growth Rate
- Fast
- Growth Habit
- , Spreading, Upright
- Water Needs
- Dry
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , Yellow
- Flower Description
- Honey-yellow, Gold
- Bloom Time
- Mid-Summer to Fall
- Blooms On
-
New Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Late winter to early spring, before new growth starts
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Green
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Spring Flowering, Summer Flowering, 3 Season Interest, Fall Flowering, Fall Interest
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Honeycomb Butterfly Bush
- Also Known As
- Summer Lilac
- Botanical Name
- Buddleia davidii Honeycomb
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
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
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We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2026 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.
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: Oregon, 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!