About Pavetta australiensis Bremek.
Pavetta australiensis Bremek. is a small shrub that grows up to around 5 m (16 ft) tall. Its leaves reach up to about 20 cm (7.9 in) long and 9 cm (3.5 in) wide. Fragrant white flowers are borne in panicles at the ends of twigs. The fruit is a small black drupe that holds one or two seeds. This species grows as an understorey shrub in multiple forest types, including beach forest, rainforest and monsoon forest. It occurs at altitudes ranging from sea level to around 1,000 m (3,300 ft). The southernmost extent of its range is the far northeastern corner of New South Wales, and it extends north along the coast and sub-coastal ranges of Queensland to the tip of Cape York Peninsula, and into New Guinea. It is highly attractive to pollinators, especially butterflies, which is how it gained the common name 'butterfly bush'. In Australia, it is considered a better alternative to introduced species such as Buddleja davidii.
