Weyer's butterfly bush is a deliberate creation — the hybrid cross of Buddleja davidii and Buddleja globosa, first produced by Major William van de Weyer at his Dorset estate in 1920. The result bridges its parents beautifully: from B. davidii it inherits vigorous arching growth and the habit of blooming on both old and new wood, and from B. globosa it takes the warm, golden-orange cast of its flowers. The original cultivar, 'Golden Glow', remains the benchmark, with 4 to 6-inch fragrant panicles in yellowish-orange that cut well and last in vases long after the garden has moved on.

In the garden it grows 5 to 12 feet tall with an arching, spreading habit, though it may die back to the roots in zones 5b and 6 in hard winters. That die-back is not necessarily a loss — prune it close to the ground in late winter regardless, as you would any buddleja, and new growth will come surging back with renewed vigor. A protected position and a deep mulch layer over the crown make all the difference in marginal climates. Deadhead spent panicles through summer to keep the flowers coming, and site it where pollinators can find it easily: butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds all respond to those honey-scented blooms.