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Dwarf Buddleja

caroallen1caroallen1 Posts: 3
in Plants

I used to have a buddleja plant in my small garden but had to dig it up as it got far too big but miss all the butterflies.  I am thinking of putting in a dwarf version  either Buzz or one of the new butterfly candy in pink or purple.  I am planning on putting it in a border.  Does anyone have any experience of these – which variety is best?  Do they really stay small?  Soil is quite poor and alkaline.   The border I am thinking of has sun in early morning until about 2pm.

Any advice will be gratefully received.





Posts

  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    I've got a couple of the buzz series and they are ok, flower well etc but will never make an impact like the large species.
    I did get a rescue plant last year which was called summer bird blue I think and it bounced back and flowered for a very long time. The flowers were in scale with the height but long lasting and continued after dead heading. Might be one to look out for as they seem to have the usual colour range.
  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    The other option is to not allow a non-dwarf version to get too big. Prune it back hard every Spring and it should stay a manageable size. It would only take a few minutes every year so isn't exactly high maintenance.
  • caroallen1caroallen1 Posts: 3
    Many thnks for all your comments - am going to have a bit of a rethink. I will have a look at one of the larger ones and see if i can find a smaller one. Is there any other p;anr which will attract alot of butterflie?
  • februarysgirlfebruarysgirl Posts: 835
    Interesting to read the comments as I planted Buzz Ivory yesterday. Space is restricted so couldn't go all out with a standard one.
  • caroallen1caroallen1 Posts: 3
    Would be interested to know how you get on with it espcially if it attracts alot of butterflies.
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    I never saw any butterflies on my dwarf buddleia but rarely see that many on the large ones either. The bees love them though.

    I have davidii (ie the big buddleia) and they can put on several meters of growth a year. I have black knight and it easily add 3m yearly and the native purple one can get even bigger. I think your best bet if you want to try and keep one manageable would be to put it in a pot and restrict it's root growth.

    Asclepias is good for butterflies as are sunflowers but my three most popular plants with them are eryngiums, echinops and eupatorium (small cultivars are available) 
  • mandyroberts99mandyroberts99 Posts: 235
    I have 2 Buzz in the ground. Both flower prolifically and attract lots of butterflies. Last year they grew to about 1.4m - bigger than I really wanted. I have cut them back harder this year. I deadhead most days
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    My daughter has a Buzz in a hot, dry, crowded space. It grows like Topsy - wide as well as unexpectedly tall - and is covered in flowers. Lovely, but by no means small.
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