Another common name is "Hardy Ageratum" because it looks like the shorter annual flower sold as Ageratum. A great old-fashioned "pass-along" plant that spreads over time by underground runners.

Hi.. and welcome fellow CT person! You'll love it here. My best flowers for attracting butterflies are Zinnias, most kinds work for me, even the doubles like Benary Giants, Oklahoma, cut and come again, and California giants. Last year I found that I even had success with the shorter Profusion varietites. They attracted mostly skippers and American Ladies but as the season turned to Fall, other species checked them out. I'd never noticed the shorter types attracting much until lat year. Of course a butterfly bush would be good, they don't cost much if you get a small one gallon pot at a local nursery. Verbena Bonariensis works great here and most years reseeds. Tropical Milkweed which you can grow from seed yourself is great for Monarchs. Mexican Sunflowers (tithonia) attract Tiger Swallowtails. I always grow parsley and bronze fennel for the Black Swallowtails. I hope your garden is in a sunny spot, because the butterflies love the warmth of the sun. Good Luck and keep posting. Our season up here starts late and peaks in July and August. But september and october can be rewarding months for the migrant species. Please consider joining the Connecticut Butterfly Association..Dues are only 15 dollars and we have field trips, educational programs, and a email network that you can join where we can post our sightings. Maryann in SE CT.

Thanks so much guys. Apparently it's definitely a sheenas gold Duranta and I must have been to about 20 shops to find a large one (above 1 metre to fill the gap in the hedge) :(. Have tried binning a markets nurseries...even posted an ad on gumtree but no luck whatsoever. One nursery offered to ring around but gave up. I live on a busy road and is such a shame to have a gap right in the middle.....grrr. Thank you all for responding....just wish I could find one now...... :)

man you have a nice collection of weeds .. lol ... dont let fancy latin names.. confuse you into thinking many of these have much value in the common flower garden ... though on the other hand.. some peeps have what they call 'native' gardens... where they grow common weeds called natives... lol all the power to you on what you choose to grow ... ken