Pavetta australiensis, commonly known as Butterfly Bush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae, found in drier rainforest areas in north eastern Australia and Papua New Guinea.

[1][2] Pavetta australiensis is a small rounded shrub that grows up to 4 meters in height, characterized by its soft, green leaves.

The species is notable for its triangular stipules that are prominent on branchlets and persist on stems, and its terminal buds that are shiny in appearance.

[3] Butterfly bush produces showy, white, and perfumed flowers in dense clusters up to 10 cm across, which typically appear in spring (October and November in Australia).

[5] This shrub is typically found in drier rainforest margins and along creeks and gullies in Australia and Papua New Guinea, and it thrives in full sun or part shade.