buddleia

American  

[buhd-lee-uh, buhd-lee-uh] / bʌdˈli ə, ˈbʌd li ə /

noun

1. any shrub belonging to the genus Buddleia, of the logania family, having opposite, lance-shaped leaves and clusters of flowers, comprising the butterfly bushes.

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buddleia British  

/ ˈbʌdlɪə /

noun

1. Also called: butterfly bush.  any ornamental shrub of the genus Buddleia , esp B. davidii , which has long spikes of mauve flowers and is frequently visited by butterflies: family Buddleiaceae

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Etymology

Origin of buddleia

< New Latin (Linnaeus), named after Adam Buddle (died 1715), English botanist; see -ia

Example Sentences

Buddleia was eliminating butterfly habitat by killing off everything else, and while the shrub provided food for adults and larger insects, other plants were needed for butterflies in their larval stages, he explains.

From BBC • Jul. 14, 2014

"Buddleia is an opportunist that's always ready to capitalise on any slight advantage."

From BBC • Jul. 14, 2014

Buddleia globosa.—This does well in a warm sheltered spot facing south-west, where the morning sun in winter will not touch it too soon.

From Trees and Shrubs for English Gardens by Cook, Ernest Thomas

The vegetation increased in interest; I noticed near the Khathing, Buddleia neemda, Pladera Justicioidea, which continues however all along even to 5000 feet. 

From Journals of Travels in Assam, Burma, Bhootan, Afghanistan and the Neighbouring Countries by Griffith, William

This is a small straggling village, on the brow of the ravine of the same name; it is like Moflong, each house being hidden by hedges composed as usual of Buddleia, Colquhounii, Solanum spirale?

From Journals of Travels in Assam, Burma, Bhootan, Afghanistan and the Neighbouring Countries by Griffith, William