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Buddleja Butterfly Tower

garypartridge107garypartridge107 Posts: 3
in Plants
Am I right in thinking that when Spring comes around I should be cutting back my butterfly tower to around 50cm above ground level?

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I don't know what a Buddliea butterfly tower is @garypartridge107. Is itone of htose 'patio' varieties?
    Have you got a photo?

    Most buddleias are certainly cut right back in late winter/early spring.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • PianoplayerPianoplayer Posts: 624
    Hi - according to this, yes, cut back to 3 or 4 buds in spring:
    https://www.vanmeuwen.com/p/buddleja-butterfly-towers/ka8837VM

  • garypartridge107garypartridge107 Posts: 3

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I meant a photo of yours.  :)
    If it looks like that - ie in size, then it's fine to prune it back quite hard as described by @Pianoplayer .
    If it isn't that sort of size, you may be better to leave it to mature. If it's a small plant, you wouldn't prune it back. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • garypartridge107garypartridge107 Posts: 3
    Thankyou @Fairygirl. Please forgive me, I'm just a beginner.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    No problem @garypartridge107. I should have made it clear  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • CloggieCloggie Posts: 1,457
    I find you can tell when buddleia are "ready".  You go out one day when it's still quite cold and they are starting to put on growth so you need to stop that and instead, encourage the very first viable pair of buds on each stem.  It's quite scary but it has to be done.  I wouldn't say 50cm above ground level is what I'd use, I'd use the very first buds that look like they will "fruit" (sometimes there's only one, not a pair) and cut the stem just above that at an angle (to let the rain run off).  You'll see that the two buds then grow into stems and flower on the tips.  Keep doing that each year to get more flowers.

    I'd agree with Fairy that if the plant is immature, give it time to settle in before doing this.
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