Standard Lemma guide

buddleia

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈbʌdlɪ.ə/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A tree or shrub of the genus Buddleja, of Africa, Asia, and the Americas, especially Buddleja davidii, a large ornamental shrub whose lilac flowers attract butterflies.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

tropical shrub having clusters of white or violet or yellow flowers

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: butterfly bush

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: shrub, bush

History

Etymology

From translingual Buddleja, named by Carl Linnaeus after English naturalist Adam Buddle (1662–1715).

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: budleia — tree of shrub of the genus Buddleja
  • Chinese Mandarin: 醉魚草屬 /醉鱼草属 — tree of shrub of the genus Buddleja
  • Dutch: vlinderstruik — tree of shrub of the genus Buddleja
  • Finnish: syrikkä — tree of shrub of the genus Buddleja
  • French: buddleia — tree of shrub of the genus Buddleja
  • German: Sommerflieder — tree of shrub of the genus Buddleja
  • Quechua: qulli — tree of shrub of the genus Buddleja