The Buddleia Bush
A Haven for Butterflies, Easy to Grow, and Has Magnificent Colors
The 'Butterfly Bush' has magnificent colors and is a mecca for butterflies. It is an invasive shrub, so pruning a buddleia is a must, while increasing the stock is easy.
The Buddleia plant is a genus of flowering plants and there are up to one hundred species on record. Most of these are shrubs with only a few being trees. Because the tree varieties can grow to over 30 feet, it is the shrub varieties that are more suitable for the average sized garden.
The Buddleia, pronounced budd-le-ah, at first can appear an untidy shrub with its branches almost trailing the ground but when it is in bloom it is magnificent and is a haven for butterflies. The Buddleia is also widely recognized in gardening catalogues as the 'Butterfly Bush' and the Peacock Butterfly flies from southern Europe to Ireland each year to gorge on its rich nectar.
The Peacock butterfly tries to build up its resources each summer and autumn from the abundance of the Buddleia but like the Buddleia, can suffer greatly from frost. Fortunately, with care the shrub can survive a harsh winter but the butterfly invariably does not. Because the Buddleia is an invasive shrub sensible pruning in the average sized garden is required.
Pruning
Pruning a Buddleia bush is simple but the timing is important to the survival of the plant. The best way to proceed is to lighten the bush as winter approaches, cut out any damaged branches and do a general tidy-up of the plant. The pruning should be done in the Spring. It is best to cut back hard, creating an open space for air and butterflies. Cut back to approximately 2 inches above a new bud. If possible leave two new buds on each stem, that way if the frost strikes, the upper one may suffer but the second one is still in place to ensure further growth. Once the pruning is completed feed the plant with a good compost and water well. Dig the compost in around the base of the shrub and spread out the digging area until the width of the bush is covered. The roots generally spread the same width as the flowers.
Increasing the Stock
Propagating of Buddleia is the best way to increase the stock and this is done simply by taking cuttings. The best time to take cuttings is once the flowering season has ended, late August to September. Take 4” to 6” long softwood, also known as semi-ripe cuttings. Using a sharp knife, make a cut just below a joint or node. If a lot of cuttings are required, each cutting should be placed in a plastic bag to help retain moisture, or if convenient dunk each one in a bucket of water. To start planting, remove the lower leaves from each cutting and cut away half of each of the uppermost four leaves. Dip the stem, about half an inch deep, into a rooting hormone and insert it into a sand based compost. Place in the glasshouse or sealed cold-frame. Plant up into individual pots once growing activity has begun. To ensure a bushier specimen pinch out some growing tips. More mature cuttings, about a foot long can be taken in September and these can be placed into a shady border in the garden to protect from frost.
Colors
The most common color of Buddleia is Lavender but it is widely available in white, rose-pink, red and yellow. The color of each shrub is enhanced by the many butterflies this delightful shrub attracts.
