Royal Red Butterfly Bush

Royal Red is a deciduous butterfly bush with arching branches and long, fragrant purple-red flower panicles. The [Royal Horticultural Society](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/96809/buddleja-davidii-royal-red/details) describes it as a large shrub, while a [regional Colorado guide](https://www.coloradotreefarmnursery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Master-Shrub-Guide.pdf) reports a shorter, more relaxed profile; pruning and climate affect its eventual size. ## Flowers and placement The RHS cultivar profile gives a height and spread range of 2.5–4 m, with full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. [North Carolina State Extension](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/buddleja-davidii/) lists the cultivar among Buddleja davidii selections and describes its magenta-purple flower panicles. A Colorado regional guide gives a smaller 5–8 ft height and 5–6 ft spread, so leave room for a substantial shrub while allowing for local pruning practice. Buddleja davidii flowers on new growth. It can self-seed and naturalize in some regions, so check local recommendations before planting and remove spent clusters if seed spread is a concern. ## Maintenance Water during establishment and maintain good drainage. Prune in early spring to manage size and encourage flowering on new growth. Protect nearby natural areas from seed spread where the species is considered invasive.