T.E.R:R.A.I.N - Taranaki Educational Resource: Research, Analysis and Information Network

Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids 
Order: Lamiales 
Family: Buddlejaceae 
Genus: Buddleja 
Species: B. davidii 
Binomial name: Buddleja davidii (Orange eye)
Common name: Buddleia, summer lilac, butterfly-bush or orange eye

It is native to north-western China and Japan. Buddleia it is a major weed and is very invasive and is common throughout New Zealand and forms dense stands in a wide range of habitats. In riverbeds, it can alter water flow, causing silt to build up and flooding problems. Buddleia is extremely ecologically versatile, tolerating a wide range of soils, especially poor soils. It can tolerate frost, and a wide range of conditions. Thickets establish and grow quickly, and are self-replacing. It invades river beds, stream sides, disturbed forest, shrubland margins and bare land. It reseeds profusely into bared sites and cut stumps will also resprout. Spread by fine seed.

It is a many-stemmed shrub, up to four metres tall with dull green, narrow, tapering leaves up to 20cm long. The leaves are usually serrated and often hairy, as is the stem. In early summer, the plant produces numerous tapering heads of sweetly scented lilac flowers with orange centres.