It was about 3 feet when we bought it. It's doubled in height. I've seen others in the area that are easily 8 feet and more. Would love to know what it is!
Buddleia (butterfly bush.) They are fast growers (2m/year) and usually cut back to a low shoot on each branch in spring, if the size needs controlling.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
Why in spring? I have three established buddleias that came with the house, and I always cut them in autumn because we get high winds in winter. They couldn't grow and flower better.
I reduce the height in autumn to prevent wind-rock and then prune properly in spring because sometimes, in a mild autumn/early winter, the autumn cut back can instigate some new growth which can then be damaged when winter proper sets in ... so reducing the height but not cutting right back gives the plant some protection.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
It doesn't really matter as they are tough and survive any amount of hacking but the reason I cut back in spring is because I can then see the healthiest shoots to cut back to, so the cuts can be made without leaving a stub.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
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Cut hard back in early spring (down to your knee level) and then stand well back and enjoy the butterflies.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.