Compare plants.

Butterfly bush and Spotted Joe-Pye weed: growing conditions and wildlife benefits.
COMMON CHOICE Butterfly bush Buddleja davidii	NATIVE ALTERNATIVE Spotted Joe-Pye weed Eutrochium maculatum
Jim, the Photographer · CC BY 2.0	GO NATIVE Kathleen Moore · CC BY 4.0
Native range
Tibet and central to southern China	E. Canada to N. Central & E. U.S.A.See state guides
Sunlight
Full sun	Full sun
Soil moisture
Average moisture; well-drained soil; tolerates some dryness	Moist to wet / Average moisture
Mature height
6–12 ft	4–7 ft
Mature spread
4–15 ft	3–4 ft
USDA hardiness zones
5–9	3–8
Season of interest
Summer–fall	Summer–Fall
Garden & wildlife value
Nectar feeds adult butterflies and other pollinators; its leaves do not feed native butterfly caterpillars.	Native flower clusters supply late-season nectar for bees and butterflies.
Growing notes
A large, fast-growing shrub that can self-seed into natural areas. Compact and sterile cultivars differ from the species.	Needs space and steady moisture; stems die back in winter, unlike a woody shrub.
Growing information	Growing information Native range: Kew

Sizes describe the species; individual cultivars can differ.

Butterfly bush