There are over one hundred species of the flowering plants known as butterfly bush endemic to Asia, Africa and the Americas. The generic name honors the Reverend Adam Buddle, a botanist in Essex, England. The first plants known as Buddleja were sent to England from the Caribbean about fifteen years after Buddle’s death. Almost all of the over one hundred species are shrubs, but a few qualify as trees. Both evergreen and deciduous species occur depending on the region where they are found. The flower color varies widely, from pinks and blues in Asia to yellows and reds in the Americas, with some cultivars having a deeper tone. All tend to be fragrant and rich in nectar, thus attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. Many are popular garden plants.