Buddleja davidii (Butterfly Bush)

Native from Tibet through central and southern China, this fast-growing deciduous shrub has arching branches and can reach about 15 feet tall. Its opposite, finely toothed leaves have whitish, hairy undersides. Fragrant flower clusters provide nectar for butterflies and bloom from summer into autumn in temperate climates. Cultivars range from white and pink to lilac and purple. Tiny, wind-dispersed seeds allow it to colonize disturbed ground and riverbanks, where it can crowd out native vegetation. It is invasive in New Zealand and Washington State, USA, and naturalized in Colombia. Photographed in Virginia, USA.