Buddleia davidii
| Buddleia davidii | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 5 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 10' |
| Width: | 10' |
| Speed: | Fast |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Mid Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Shelter | |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Buddleia davidii (common name: butterfly bush)
Propagation: Seed - cold stratify for 4 weeks at 4°c[1] and surface sow the seed in February/March in a greenhouse[2][3]. Germination usually takes place within 3 - 4 weeks at 21°c[1]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter, planting them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Seedlings are inclined to damp off and so should be watered with care and kept well-ventilated[2].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[4][3]. Use short side-shoots[2]. Very high percentage[3].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 15 - 20cm long, October/November in a frame[5].
Cultivation: Requires a sunny position[4][6]. Prefers a rich loamy well-drained soil[4][5]. Very tolerant of alkaline soils, atmospheric pollution and maritime exposure[5]. Grows best on dry soils of low fertility, where it can seed itself freely[6].
Plants are hardy to about -15°c[7], they resprout from the base if cut back by cold weather[5].
A very ornamental plant[8], it hybridizes freely with other members of this genus. Polymorphic, there are many named varieties, developed for their ornamental value[6]. The flowers emit a musk-like fragrance like heather honey[9].
Plants flower mainly on the current years growth so a hard pruning in spring will encourage better flowering[5].
An excellent plant for bees and butterflies[10].
Range: E. Asia - China. Naturalized in Britain[11].
Habitat: Found in rocky riverside habitats 1300 - 2600 metres in China[5]. Waste places, often on brick walls in Britain[11].
Usage: Black or green dyes can be obtained from the flowers, leaves and stems combined[12].
An orange-gold to brown dye can be obtained from the flowers[12].
Pollinators: Bees, lepidoptera
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
Pollution: Tolerates environmental pollution.
Seed Ripens: Early Fall-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Monoecious
Also Known As: B. variabilis.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bird, R. Growing from Seed Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan, 1989.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Dirr, Michael and Charles Heuser. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press, 1987.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ Carter, David. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe. Pan, 1982.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Grae, Ida. Nature's Colors. MacMillan Publishing, 1974.