By Beatrice Hawkins
The butterfly bush or Buddleia, is a beautiful, hardy, decorative shrub that comes in a number of colours and sizes and does well in many situations. It does very well in our area and there were some in the neighbour’s yard that provided a great display.
They are native to Africa, Asia and the Americas and were named by Linnaeus after the Reverened Adam Buddle an English rector and botanist, but unfortunately this was after the reverend died.
They like to be planted in full sun in well drained, fertile soil and in this respect don’t differ much from most other plants! Certainly some plants don’t handle as much sun as others, but most seem to like “fertile, well-drained soil.” Buddleias do like a little lime in their soil and consequently they often do really well near cement paths or foundations.
The beautiful lances of tiny flowers at the end of arching stems, provide colour and attract bees, birds and butterflies for many months. They have a lovely honey scented perfume that attracts all of these. Anything that attracts these beneficial things to our gardens has to be worth growing, as they will help keep the harmful bugs under control and minimise the need for using chemicals. Having bees and butterflies abounding will also help with pollinating your vegetable garden.
Buddleias generally flower on new growth, so by dead heading, or cutting sprays for indoors, through the flowering season, new growth is encouraged and flowering prolonged.
There is really no wrong way to prune a buddleia and often, to keep them under control and promote new growth, a good hard cut back is necessary in late winter/early spring. They are a very tough shrub and even cutting them back to almost ground level works, once they are established.
There are so many sizes available, there really is a plant for every situation, either a tall one as a specimen plant, or some small ones as fillers in a border. So many colours, that if you had the room, you could paint a flowering, ever changing, living picture! Deep blue/black, pale pinks, mauves, vibrant deep pinks and magenta and of course white and cream for contrast to make the other colours look even more spectacular.
Once established they handle most things in the way of climate, from frosts and snow to summer heat and drought.
I have read that they make a lovely hedge with the sprays of flowers and because they appreciate being trimmed and flowering on new growth. Just imagine a multi-coloured hedge of these beautiful bushes. I have never seen one growing by in my mind’s eye I can envisage such a beautiful sight. Wish I had somewhere I could experiment with this – I think it could look truly spectacular. Mmmm, I have a fenceline where this might go well – just need a rotary hoe to break the ground up first, something for a border, some good soil brought in, a water saving system installed, plants and hey presto! A colourful hedge started for next spring and summer. Another plan for the future when my son comes up and brings the rotary hoe and when we have water to garden with again! He’s going to be a busy lad when he visits his mum!
At the property in Walcha, I established some as specimen plants and can vouch for their hardiness, as where we were we had heavy frosts to -12 degrees for extended periods in winter, snow at least once a season and quite hot dry summers on occasions!
If a friend or neighbour has a shrub you admire, look for fresh shoots in late spring just as they start to harden up a little, semi-hardwood, and “take a little cutting” about 6 inches long. Pinch out the top, remove any over large leaves and pot it into a 50/50 mix of compost and sand and they should take OK. Alternatively, if you can identify the name of the particular variety that you admire, go visit and support your local nursery by ordering an already growing bush. For me and my “brown thumb”, this would be the most successful method of propagation!
Don’t forget the Autumn Flower Show next Wednesday10th and Thursday11th and check out the schedule and your garden to see what you can bring to add to the display. As usual, schedules are available from Bryson’s in Palmerin St. Entries will be taken from 8am to 10 on the Wednesday morning. A Covid plan will be in place so you will be able to deliver your entries with confidence.
Judging will then be done and the doors open to the public for their enjoyment, from midday. Trophies will be available for collection at 4 pm on Thursday.
Looking forward to seeing lots of people come and enjoy what the talented and dedicated gardeners of Warwick can grow and show.
*This is an old article that has been digitised so our readers have access to our full catalogue.
