Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) is in the figwort family family (Scrophulariaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 932 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
Nationally it blooms mainly from July to October, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Butterfly bush: observations by month (U.S.)
About Butterfly bush
Buddleja davidii (spelling variant Buddleia davidii), also called summer lilac, butterfly-bush, or orange eye, is a species of flowering plant in the family Scrophulariaceae, native to Sichuan and Hubei provinces in central China, and also Japan. It is widely used as an ornamental plant, and many named varieties are in cultivation. B. davidii is named after the French missionary and explorer in China, Father Armand David, who was the first European to report the shrub. It...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Butterfly bush by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 215 | August | Jun–Oct |
| Washington | 215 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 74 | August | Jul–Oct |
| New York | 66 | July | Jul–Oct |
| Oregon | 49 | July | Jul–Sep |
| New Jersey | 42 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Virginia | 38 | September | Jun–Oct |
| Maryland | 33 | August | Aug–Oct |
| Ohio | 32 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Massachusetts | 21 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Georgia | 19 | August | Jul–Aug |
| West Virginia | 16 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Michigan | 15 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Connecticut | 10 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Tennessee | 10 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Kentucky | 9 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Illinois | 8 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Missouri | 7 | October | Jun–Oct |
| Colorado | 6 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Indiana | 6 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Utah | 6 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Delaware | 5 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Rhode Island | 5 | September | Aug–Sep |
| South Carolina | 5 | July | Jul–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (figwort family)
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Butterfly bush?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from July to October.
Where is Butterfly bush most often seen?
The most observations come from North Carolina, Washington, Pennsylvania.