Gardeners warned over popular plant that's 'extremely invasive like Japanese knotweed'

Buddleia, also known as the butterfly bush, was a magnet for pollinators due to its nectar-laden flowers

These beautiful purple blossoms with an innocent-sounding nickname are a common sight in British gardens. Buddleia, also known as the butterfly bush, was a magnet for pollinators due to its nectar-laden flowers - but they could also be a real menace.

Most gardeners were unaware that the plant was capable of causing "severe damage" to structures. One expert said it could be as "difficult to control or eradicate" as the notorious Japanese knotweed.

Jennifer Holmes from Environment Controls warned Buddleia shares the invasive qualities of Japanese knotweed but spreads differently, the Mirror reports. Instead of subterranean roots, Buddleia's seeds take to the air, finding new homes in the nooks and crannies of buildings where they sprout with ease.

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While Buddleia hasn't been officially ranked alongside Japanese knotweed, it's still wreaking havoc across the UK. It's estimated the cost of damages to properties has hit the £1 million mark.

"While both buddleia and knotweed can cause significant harm to building structures, Buddleia is less likely to affect underground infrastructure due to its shallow root system," Jennifer said. "However, Buddleia is extremely invasive and difficult to eliminate.

"Unlike knotweed, it can grow in hard-to-reach areas like roofs, guttering, window sills, and walls-essentially anywhere a seed lands, it can thrive. Knotweed, on the other hand, needs its roots to be in the ground to establish itself."

The good news is, Buddleia could be banished, either with chemical treatments or by digging them out. In case of a floricultural invasion, it's prudent to engage specialists capable of getting rid of them once and for all.