Last Updated on April 15, 2024 by Real Men Sow
Buddleia davidii is a fast-growing shrub that can be grown in any garden with sun and well-drained soil. There are many varieties that can be used for borders or pots. The flower heads, also known as the butterfly bush or the butterfly bush, are magnets for many insects and are filled with nectar.
There are many colours available for flowers, including pink, purple, white, and yellow. In late summer, flowers are available continuously for approximately four to six weeks.
The beautiful buddleia bush is a great choice if you are looking to transform your outdoor space in the summer. A buddleia bush is a beautiful and attractive plant that attracts butterflies.
What Is A Buddleia davidii Plant?
It’s a flowering shrub that produces clusters of floral-shaped clusters. It is available in a variety of colours, including white, yellow and pink as well as red, blue, purple and blue. The sweet scent attracts birds and pollinators, such as butterflies and bees.
Buddleias can reach heights of at least 6 feet, but they can also grow to about 10 feet tall and have a width equal to that. The buddleia is large, fragrant and colourful, making it a good choice for gardeners who want to attract wildlife to enhance their gardens.
Growing Buddleia davidii (Butterfly Bush)
Buddleia is grown in full sun in moist and well-drained soil. To encourage more flowering, deadhead the flowers and then cut back in late spring to keep the shrub from getting too big. This will ensure that flowering happens slightly later in the season. It also means there is plenty of pollen and nectar for butterflies in the late summer.
Where to Grow Buddleia davidii
Buddleia can grow in any place – often they are seen in brickwork, and they will happily colonise wasteland. In fact, they are considered invasive plants. To get the most out of them as garden plants, you should choose a sunny spot to attract butterflies and encourage nectar-rich blooms.
When Do Flowers Bloom?
The buddleia, a semi-evergreen perennial plant, only loses its leaves for a short time after it has flowered. Buddleia flowers appear from early summer to autumn and are a great choice for anyone looking for a quick boost of colour and life.
When Should You Plant A Buddleia davidii Plant?
Planting Buddleias in the late autumn or early season is a good idea. Buddleias are tolerant of a wide range of conditions making them an excellent choice for people who want a low-effort plant. Buddleias require well-drained soil.
This is why they are best planted in the late autumn or early spring before it becomes frozen. The buddleia will not be affected by winter, but it can withstand the cold and will regrow as soon as the sun comes back.
Plant your buddleia carefully considering the full-grown bush size and ensuring that there is enough space for it to grow.
Taking Care of Buddleia davidii
Buddleias can become huge if left to their own devices. It flowers on the new season’s growth. Give them a hard pruning in April or May to remove all dead wood and keep their shape. This encourages later flowering which is good news for butterflies like the small tortoiseshell.
Your buddleia will flower more if you give it a high-potash spring feed. However, keep your plants deadheaded to ensure a long-lasting blooming period. This will prevent the unwanted spread of buddleia seedlings.
How to Propagate Buddleia davidii
Many varieties can self-seed freely. You can also propagate from semi-ripe cuttings in summer and hardwood cuttings in autumn.
Pruning Buddleia
The butterfly bush can reach over 10 feet in height and spread quickly throughout your garden. Trimming is important. It is recommended that the buddleia be fully trimmed at least once per year, and ideally in the early spring after any frost danger has passed. Although March is a good time to prune, it is important to consider the local weather. Pruning should be avoided if there is a possibility of very cold weather as frost can damage new growths.
You should trim your butterfly bush’s branches back to the ground. Leave stems that are approximately a foot long. Even if the existing branches aren’t damaged, it’s easy for a buddleia to become overcrowded. This is what allows the new flowers to grow in summer. After this intensive spring pruning, it is important to continue to watch your buddleia throughout each year. Dead or damaged blooms must be removed immediately.
Unique Buddleia Varieties to try
‘Summer Beauty’ – A small variety with deep pink flowers, and narrow, green-grey foliage. It can be grown in containers or at the border.
‘Santana’ – With variegated leaves, and wine-red blooms from July through September
Buddleia × weyeriana ‘Sungold’ – A rare Buddleia that produces large clusters of golden yellow flowers and has a strong scent.
‘Ile de France’ – Deep purple flowers that bloom from July through September
‘Buzz Sky Blue’ – Compact and easy to grow deep-blue flowers. This is a great choice for containers and small gardens
Buddleia alternifolia – different species than the more common Buddleia davidii. Its branches are shorter and arching and bear dense clusters of pink-scented flowers. It has been awarded the prestigious Award of Garden Merit by The Royal Horticultural Society (AGM).
