Buddleja

...most familiar of Buddlejas, the Buddleja davidii. Familiar it may be but I’ll bet there are a good few of you who’ll have no idea what I’m talking about until I give you its common name. If you live in an urban area you’ll undoubtedly recall seeing it thriving on wasteland, along railway embankments and even growing on the roofs of derelict building. In its original form, ‘The Butterfly Bush’ has been quite a rebel, moving out of gardens and naturalising ...
...population.

The Buddleja davidii was so named to commemorate the Essex vicar-cum-botanist Adam Buddle, in whose honour the first buddleja species was grown in Britain and Armand David, the French missionary who discovered it growing in the highlands of China way back in 1869. Its original form was that of the wild plants that adorn our towns and cities today.

Those early plants have since been developed, both naturally ... more

Sitting in the garden during late afternoon with the sun gently caressing the shrubs and enticing them to set bud ready for their summer display, my mind wandered back to the wonderful shows of previous summers.

This review will concentrate on the most familiar of Buddlejas, the Buddleja davidii. Familiar it may be but I’ll bet there are a good few of you who’ll have no idea what I’m talking about until I give you its common name. If you live in an urban area you’ll undoubtedly recall seeing it thriving on wasteland, along railway embankments and even growing on the roofs of derelict building. In its original form, ‘The Butterfly Bush’ has been quite a rebel, moving out of gardens and naturalising wherever its seed happened to land to the extent where its arching stems and lilac flowers have become an established part of our city landscapes and is probably the most important single contributor to the survival of our urban butterfly population.

The Buddleja davidii was so named to commemorate the Essex vicar-cum-botanist Adam Buddle, in whose honour the first buddleja species was grown in Britain and Armand David, the French missionary who discovered it growing in the highlands of China way back in 1869. Its original form was that of the wild plants that adorn our towns and cities today.

Those early plants have since been developed, both naturally and with the aid of man, to give us the many hybrids and cultivars that are available today. All can reach about 8 foot high and 6 foot wide if left unchecked but differ in flower colour and, to a lesser extent, leaf colour.

These extremely hardy shrubs are semi-deciduous (they lose most of their leaves in autumn with some clinging on through winter) with mostly grey-green foliage although some cultivars have deeper green leaves. The arching stems terminate in slender, cone shaped clusters of tiny flowers that are seen from July through to September, ranging from pure white through pale lilac (the common form), deep red-purple, violet, dark blue and a purple so deep that it almost appears to be black.

Butterflies and moths, as its common name suggests, are attracted to the flower spikes by the sweet smell of the nectar that’s produced in abundance. On a warm summer’s afternoon you’ll see quite a show of prettily coloured butterflies sunning themselves after enjoying their meal. Bees and various other insects that are beneficial to the garden are also attracted by the nectar.

Luckily, this is a very easy shrub to grow and well suited to those who are just starting out in the world of gardening. They’ll grow happily in most soils but whilst they won’t be too happy if the soil’s moist, they’ll get along quite nicely in dry, sandy soil and are tolerant of droughts. When the rest of your garden’s sulking through lack of water, the butterfly bush will continue to bear new flowers although probably not as abundantly as when conditions are more favourable.

These are sun lovers, the sun’s rays being necessary to release the sweet scent of the nectar, so a place where they can enjoy sunshine for most of the day is where they‘ll be happiest. They’ll put up with some shade if necessary but will struggle if planted in a very shady spot. Choosing the wrong spot is the biggest mistake new gardeners make so forward planning is essential. Decide where you can have your buddleja or even whether you can have one before you set off for the garden centre to procure your example.

Pests and diseases aren’t a problem. This is one tough dude!

Pruning is a must unless you want your bush to grow gangly and scraggly. Far too many gardeners, experienced gardeners included, see pruning as something you’d need a degree for but don’t panic, it’s actually quite easy - honest! All you need to do is grab a pair of secateurs, go out in the garden in March and cut back the stems to about 2 feet, choosing a place just an eight of an inch above a pair of healthy looking buds. This method of pruning can only be used on shrubs that flower on new wood rather than last year’s wood. Taking them so far back may seem drastic but this is a fast growing shrub that will grow back to a manageable height of about 6 feet in just one season and flower far more profusely than if you’d left it. If the shrub hasn’t been pruned for a few years and has become very dense, take out the middle stems right back to the ground as this will open it up, allowing light and air in which will promote healthy growth. My mum has a buddleja that’s never been pruned in the 10 years or so it’s been in her garden. It still blooms but it doesn’t look anywhere near as impressive as it could. Ours was pruned back last month and is now double its height after pruning and growing vigorously.

Buddleja davidii can spread although popular garden cultivars are far less likely to become invasive than the original lilac form. Deadheading flowers once they’ve started to fade will ensure that seed doesn’t spread as well as making for a tidier looking plant. Should you want to propagate it then take cuttings rather than using seed as seed grown plants usually lose the characteristics of their parent plant, reverting back to their original form. Cutting should be taken during mid-summer and be about 4-6 inches long. Strip off the lower set of leaves, dab the cut end with hormone rooting powder and poke the cuttings around the edge of a 6 inch flower pot (there will be room for 4). Once they start showing signs of growth, re-pot individually. Keep them under cover and frost free during winter and plant out the following spring.

Other forms of buddleja are available, the most popular being Buddleja globosa, otherwise known as the Orange Ball Tree. Unsurprisingly, its name taken into consideration, this shrub produces round clusters of bright orange flowers. Although also attractive to butterflies, globosa doesn’t enjoy the popularity of davidii perhaps because its growth is more rampant, reaching a height of 12 feet if left unchecked.

Other less common forms can be found in garden centres but are generally considered to be specialist plants rather than common garden shrubs. None of them are as colourful, floriferous or as sweetly scented as the common butterfly bush.

If you’re worried that you won’t have room for a butterfly bush, you can relax in the knowledge that standard versions are also available. That’s a bush where the stem is tall and bare with a round ‘head’ of branches, rather like a standard rose. These are generally about 4-5 feet high with relatively narrow crowns so ideal for growing in tubs on the patio. Prune just the head in spring leaving the stem as is.

If you want to attract wildlife into your garden, attracting butterflies is a pleasant way to start. They’re delicate, colourful and an absolute joy to watch. Buddleja davidii, being an easy shrub to grow, is the perfect way of attracting them. For just £3-6 for a regular shrub depending on its size (probably about £12 for a standard), it’s a small investment when you consider the amount of pleasure it‘ll give back.

Happy gardening!

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