Plant guide
Butterfly bush
Buddleja davidii
Butterfly bush identified as Buddleja davidii is considered non-toxic to cats. Check local invasive-plant guidance before choosing it for a garden.
Non-toxic does not mean edible. Eating plant material can still upset your cat’s stomach.
What this guide covers: Buddleja davidii only. Check the botanical name; a photo cannot establish the identity of your plant.
Photo:
Photo details
Buddleja davidii — Flower panicle detail
By Jim, the Photographer
License: CC BY 2.0
Resized and converted to WebP for display; botanical details unchanged.
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Photo:
Photo details
Buddleja davidii — Flower panicle detail
By Jim, the Photographer
License: CC BY 2.0
Resized and converted to WebP for display; botanical details unchanged.
Black Knight butterfly bush
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Non-toxic does not mean edible. Chewing plants can still upset your cat’s stomach.
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Look for Buddleja davidii and check the selected variety. Listings and availability can change.
Plant identity
- Scientific name
- Buddleja davidii
- Scope
- Species
- Family
- Not recorded
- Also known as
- No reviewed aliases available
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How to grow this plant
Buddleja davidii only. Check the botanical name; a photo cannot establish the identity of your plant.
- Light
- Sunny position
Full sun.
- Watering
Use moist soil with drainage; avoid standing water.
- Temperature
- Temperature range not yet established
Outdoor shrub; no preferred indoor temperature range proposed.
- Humidity
No specific humidity target established.
- Potting
- Well-drained soil; improve heavy clay drainage.
- Through the year
- Prune in early spring because flowers form on new growth. Limit unwanted seedlings and follow local planting guidance.
Growing-guide sources
- Buddleja davidii ↗NC State Extension · Accessed 2026-10-16
Buddleja davidii only. Check the botanical name; a photo cannot establish the identity of your plant.
Growing advice reviewed 2026-10-17. Plant safety is assessed separately.
Reviewed safety information
- Toxic principle
- Not recorded in the reviewed evidence
- Reported signs
- Not recorded in the reviewed evidence
Missing information is unknown. It should not be interpreted as an absence of risk.
Safe alternatives
No verified alternative recommendations are available for this guide.
Sources & review
- Butterfly bush: source assessment ↗Veterinary Poisons Information Service · Accessed
Listed by the source as Buddleia species. VPIS lists Buddleia species. Oregon State documents Buddleia davidii and Buddleja davidii as synonyms; NC State establishes the member species. Safety does not establish ecological suitability.
- Buddleia davidii synonym Buddleja davidii ↗Oregon State University · Accessed 2026-10-16
- Buddleja davidii ↗NC State Extension · Accessed 2026-10-16
- Butterfly bush: source assessment ↗Veterinary Poisons Information Service · Accessed 2026-10-16
Safety last reviewed .