Buddleia globosa - cuttings advice please

Obelixx · June 2023

I have a buddleia globosa, planted last year as a smallish specimen. It is clearly happy and has flowered profusely this spring and also grown a great deal. I'd like to prune it now and take cuttings.

Is this a good plan or should I wait a bit longer? I've only grown the usual buddleia suspects before and know the pruning regime is different.

Lyn · June 2023

Prune now and take cuttings, it blooms on the wood it will grow this year.

Obelixx · June 2023

Thanks @Lyn. That's my first job tomorrow am then.

LeadFarmer · July 2023

I tried taking cuttings from my globosa but they all failed. I cut some stems that weren't in flower, cut below a leaf joint, snipped the leaves in half to reduce evaporation, and then put some in a jar of water, and some in pots with compost that I kept moist.

Those in compost died fairly quickly, and those in the jar seems to stay alive for a couple of weeks but never developed any roots, then died.

Any suggestions please?

Lyn · July 2023

@LeadFarmer. You’re doing right with them in pots, you need fairly thick pieces taken from the main stem, put them round the edge and put a cover over them, either a little cane and a plastic bag with a rubber band round it or a cut of lemonade/pop bottle.
leave in the shade but somewhere warm, they could take a while.

LeadFarmer · July 2023

Lyn said:

@LeadFarmer. You’re doing right with them in pots, you need fairly thick pieces taken from the main stem, put them round the edge and put a cover over them, either a little cane and a plastic bag with a rubber band round it or a cut of lemonade/pop bottle.
leave in the shade but somewhere warm, they could take a while.

Thanks, I think maybe I took stems that were too young, but then the plant is only a couple of years old so maybe too young? However I'll give it another go with thicker stems.

Lyn · July 2023

You could try seeds, you don’t cover these, just press into soil.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Buddleia-Globosa-Orange-Ball-Rare-beautiful-butterfly-bush-Seeds-50-/254786216815?pageci=62879a1d-f42d-45ca-ae9b-f7791fa25ac4&redirect=mobile

fidgetbones · July 2023

Buddleja root readily from young shoots. I would leave it until it starts growing next spring , and when you have thick shoots around 15cm long, use those for cuttings. Dip in rooting compound, put in a pot , water once to settle it, and cover (plastic bag or propagator lid) and put in a warm place out of direct sunlight.

thevictorian · July 2023

I found these rooted quite easily from semi ripe cuttings now and hardwood cuttings in the autumn.

The biggest problem I have with this species is its such a vigorous grower that it really needs a lot of space once it's a few years old, simply because you have to leave it a season for it to flower. Last year I cut it down to the ground after flowering and this year it still made it above our up stairs window (it also didn't flower even though I cut it back as soon as it flowered last year, so really heavy pruning can definitely affect flowering for a while).

Obelixx · July 2023

Must admit I haven't done mine yet. It still had flowers as I headed off for knee surgery earlier this month and I'm not yet up to hobbling down there and standing on one leg to take cuttings but I should be fine by next week. I shall try both water and gritty compost in pots in the shade.

Buddleia globosa - cuttings advice please

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