Buddleja davidii ‘Black Knight’ – A Striking, Fragrant Beauty with Dark Purple Blooms
Buddleja davidii ‘Black Knight’, commonly known as the Butterfly Bush, is a striking, deciduous shrub known for its deep, rich purple flowers and ability to attract an array of pollinators, particularly butterflies. This variety stands out with its dramatic, dark purple spikes that contrast beautifully against its silvery-green foliage. Flowering profusely from mid-summer to autumn, ‘Black Knight’ adds a splash of vibrant colour and a delightful fragrance to the garden. With its upright growth habit and dense, bushy form, it makes an eye-catching addition to both formal and informal garden designs, creating a focal point that draws the eye and the butterflies.
Why Grow Buddleja davidii ‘Black Knight’?
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Rich, Dark Purple Blooms – The deep, almost black-purple flowers of ‘Black Knight’ make a bold statement in the garden. These flowers form dense, elongated spikes that add an exotic touch to any landscape.
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Pollinator-Friendly – True to its name, Buddleja ‘Black Knight’ is a magnet for butterflies and other pollinators. Its fragrant blooms attract these beneficial insects, making it an excellent choice for wildlife-friendly gardens.
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Long-Lasting Blooms – Flowering from mid-summer through autumn, this variety offers an extended season of colour, brightening up the garden long after many other plants have finished blooming.
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Low Maintenance – Once established, ‘Black Knight’ is a hardy and drought-tolerant plant, making it relatively low-maintenance and ideal for gardeners looking for vibrant colour with minimal effort.
Planting & Care Guide
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Position: Buddleja ‘Black Knight’ thrives in full sun and needs plenty of sunlight to flower abundantly. It can tolerate light shade, but its blooming will be reduced. It also prefers a sheltered spot, away from strong winds, which can damage its large flower heads.
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Soil: This plant is adaptable to a wide range of well-drained soils, including both slightly acidic and alkaline conditions. However, it does best in moist, moderately fertile soil, and while it’s drought-tolerant once established, it appreciates regular watering in hot weather.
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Watering: Water regularly, particularly during dry spells, to keep the plant thriving. Once established, it is quite drought-resistant but will benefit from a deep watering to encourage healthy growth and flowering.
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Maintenance:
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Pruning: Buddleja ‘Black Knight’ benefits from annual pruning to maintain its shape and encourage new growth. In early spring, cut the plant back hard to a few inches from the ground to encourage a bushy form and vibrant blooms.
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Deadheading: To prolong the flowering season and keep the plant looking tidy, remove spent flower heads regularly.
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Dividing: While not necessary, you can divide the plant every few years to help maintain its vigour and prevent overcrowding.
Perfect Plant Combinations
Buddleja ‘Black Knight’ pairs beautifully with other summer-blooming perennials and shrubs. For a dramatic contrast, combine it with plants that have lighter or silver foliage, such as lavender or artemisia, where the dark purple flowers of the butterfly bush will stand out. It also works wonderfully in mixed borders alongside late-blooming varieties like Echinacea, Rudbeckia, or Asters. If you want to create a wildlife-friendly garden, plant it with other pollinator magnets such as Salvia, Verbena, or Penstemon to provide a diverse range of nectar sources. In a more naturalistic setting, it can be combined with grasses like Miscanthus or ornamental grasses for an informal, breezy effect.
Whether planted as a statement shrub, part of a wildlife garden, or a key element in a mixed border, Buddleja davidii ‘Black Knight’ is sure to captivate with its stunning, dark blooms and its ability to attract butterflies throughout the summer and autumn months.
Does the height include the pot?
No, we measure from the top of the pot to the tip of the plant except for some of the instant planted screens, in this case it will be stated in the description
How long does delivery take?
Most orders are delivered in just a few days, Smaller items are often sent with Parcelforce on a next day service, Larger items should allow up to 10 days due to the size of the items they often have to be sent on our own transport.
Where will you leave my plants?
We will leave your order at the front of your property, Parcelforce may
leave your items in a safe place if you let us know, Pallet couriers
will require a flat hard surface to deliver to, no gravel or soil, a
driveway or parking spot would be best. Most importantly Deliveries by
pallet courier will require access for a large truck (bin lorry sized)
to get near the delivery point. Deliveries sent on our own transport may come in a small van or larger truck.
