Butterfly Tree

hamsmith

hi.
in my last house i had a tree, no higher than 5 ft which produced purple flowers and attracted at least 100 butterflies. we(myself and the children) called it the butterfy tree. we have moved more into the city and under a flight path. we miss all the birds and deer and squirells and are trying to attract the butterflies again.

i have planted lavender but i miss my tree. some people suggested buddleja, which i will look into but it seems like a hedge bush with similar purple flowers.

is there a tree that sounds like buddleja?

tanith

Buddleia can grow huge and I'm sure thats what you mean take a look here...http://www.lovethegarden.com/blog/pruning-the-butterfly-bush

shegirl

You will mean Buddleia/Buddleja.It can grow VERY big and is known as the butterfly bush.I'm pretty sure there is no tree like it lol It's also the plant that attracts butterflies the most.

Can come in different colours too I had one grow in the most awkward place last year (no idea where it came from either lol) and it was literally right on the edge of the path outside my back door!!!It went wild lol

I've got rid of it due to where it was but I've got several mini buddlejas coming (they still grow to a decent size) to put in the garden in lavender,pink and white,in places I actually want them!!!

I'm looking forward to being out in the garden and seeing the beautiful sight of a red admiral sat on one:D

susieb

If it flowered fairly early it could be a lilac tree, looks similar flowers to budleia

annie123

what month were the flowers out?

Buddleia can be trained as a tree and kept in a pot too, which is nicer than sprawling mess in some gardens.
Plants for butterflies:
http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/downloads/48/gardening.html
http://www.surreywildlifetrust.org/faq/5

Find your local group http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/ They will be able to give you lots of advice and ideas and many have a wildlife garden which you can visit or work on.
Lots of things for kids to get involved with too.

It doesn't take long to get a new garden wildlife friendly with the right plants, bird feeders, pond, log piles etc.

Took us 1 summer to get wildlife in our little garden, I'm sure it will be the same for you too.

hamsmith

hi guys. thanks for all your replies. i think it was a lilac tree. i have just googled it. i know just where i want to put it. i am going to try to but a buddleja this weekend and i will check out the wild life trust too. i have a pond which has nothing in. apparently fish can/t survive as there isn't a working pump to airate the water but maybe the wildlife trust will inspire.

silverjay

I have two buddleias one with deep purple flowers and the other dark magenta that are a haven for butterflies. You just have to remember to hard-prune them about feb/march to keep them under control.

I also have ceanothus (sp?) or California lilac which flowers around May time and the butterflies love this but I find the bees flock to it for the pollen. It also needs keeping under control with regular pruning but the leaves are evergreen.

Butterflies and bees seem to like purple coloured flowers.

ETA the bees arent' a problem for me I love to sit and watch them working but I know for some people bees are a no-no.

point3

I would guess at Buddleia too.
I have a lilac coming into bloom just now. It has a fantastic scent :j , but it attracts bees rather than butterflies which tend to come a bit later on in the year.

hollydays

My lilac is in bloom now,the flowers are more upright,while buddleia sp.,are conical and long and droop down.My buddleia is not in flower yet.
There is an offer on hukd for dwarf buddleai at the mo.

shegirl

hollydays wrote: »

My lilac is in bloom now,the flowers are more upright,while buddleia sp.,are conical and long and droop down.My buddleia is not in flower yet.
There is an offer on hukd for dwarf buddleai at the mo.

I got the dwarf ones from T&M,bargain at 3 for £14.99 when they're £9.99 each!!! Paid with clubcard rewards vouchers too (each £7.50 is £20 in T&M vouchers:D) Can't wait for them to arrive in June:D

Have to say,even if you want a Lilac tree (first time I'd seen one and they're very pretty) nothing will attract butterflies like a buddleia will so deffo get some in your garden Also,butterflies loves yellow flowers,so any yellow flowers are great...even if you end up with dandelions lol

PS my son is a member of butterfly conservation (ok,he loves them but it was my idea and cheaper than adult membership and I'm probably more into it than him lol) so if you want any info I'll be happy to help if I can (and have their publications here lol)

hamsmith

i went to the garden centre today and saw a the lilac. the flowers look like my old tree and apparently buddleja flower in july. my tree flowered in spring.
anyway. i bought a lilac tree with deep purple flowers and another bee and another bee and butterfly attracting plant with beautiful lilac flowers on. we are going to think about a buddleja later when i get paid.

also been tidying up the pond to attract some wildlife.

thanks again for your posts.

joanne