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Buddleia silver anniversary not thriving

marieclaire.wilsonTv2nM4ufmarieclaire.wilsonTv2nM4uf Posts: 3
in Problem solving
Hi, I planted a buddleia silver anniversary in my south facing gravel garden 3 years ago or so. It was doing pretty well but this year seems to be having problems. At first I thought it was the late frost that did it, but it hasn't recovered.
  • Leaves are very narrow looking, they have been turning yellow and brown
  • I've tried giving extra water, but then stopped as I thought there might be a root rot problem
  • Flowers have been forming, but are much smaller and don't last long
  • There are small leaves on the ends of the branches
As you can see, it is planted next to some lavender, which is doing very well  - I have treated the buddleia much the same way as the lavender.

I get the impression the tree is still alive and trying to grow, but something is stopping it!

Any advice welcome. Should I treat for fungus, try a feed, or move the plant to my north-facing back garden? I am a bit confused as I thought buddleias were generally very hardy and didn't need much care!




Posts

  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,904
    bump
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    What size is it and what size was it when planted?   It's impossible to tell from the photo - there seems to be a lot of planting nearby too.
    Was it rootbound at all?
    Buddleias are indeed very tough, but the cultivated varieties aren't the same as the common one - they still need decent prep to thrive and establish. It's also perfectly normal for them to have some dead/damaged foliage  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • marieclaire.wilsonTv2nM4ufmarieclaire.wilsonTv2nM4uf Posts: 3
    Thank you - it's about 90cm tall, there is lavender around it. Everything in my garden tends to lean - the buddleia and the lavender are all leaning forward towards the sun. Put a small string fence  around it in the winter to stop it from flopping onto the ground.

    It was planted around 3 years ago, and looked something like this when I bought it. A lot healthier than now, the leaves have become quite sparse. https://www.cowellsgc.co.uk/product/buddleja-silver-anniversary/?gclid=CjwKCAjwwb6lBhBJEiwAbuVUSvQIV0LBi3wOu45TgGuitNtRY3HVKCuekvJePrdMU_RWSOHM0SUTxBoCruEQAvD_BwE

    I don't remember it being rootbound, and it was doing well until this year. 

    Would you suggest any treatments, or maybe moving it?
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Is there a membrane under the gravel?  Is enough water getting through and right down to the roots?  Last summer was so very dry and the winter and this year so far haven’t been much better. 
    Here, after heavy rain, if I dig a few inches below the surface in a south facing border it’s still dry as dust down at root level. 😞 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    How well watered was it after you planted it, and for the next 6 months or so?
    The link also doesn't say what size it was when you got it. A small plant will take a year or two to settle and establish, even with good conditions, and anything planted during summer needs far more attention than when planted in autumn or early spring. If you're in one of those dry parts of the country, it would need attention for a good number of months to ensure success. Even the following year after planting, it would have needed to be checked to see it wasn't drying out for long spells. 
    I don't have to worry about that here, but even so - last year was extremely dry, and very hot, and new plants, particularly woody shrubs or trees,  would have needed more attention to settle them in, so the location and site are big factors. 
    Too many plants around it can mean a lot of competition for that water - which even buddleias need enough of to establish and thrive. The prep for planting anything is the most important part, and as @Dovefromabove says, what the soil's like also affects the plant's ability to settle in   :)
    If everything's leaning to reach light and sun, that tells you they're not in the best site for their needs. Other planting - especially shrubs and trees will affect that, as well as fences/buildings etc. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Sorry - I looked at your link again and I see the size is a 3 litre pot, which is a decent size of plant. However, the prep is the important thing for a good sized plant, so it would be good to know how you did that before planting out  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698
    You might be right about the late frost @marieclaire.wilsonTv2nM4uf
    This buddleia is not the thug we all know and love and needs some protection from the cold weather. Many people have lost plants this past year due to the vagaries of the weather with the cold and wet winter being the final straw. It may be a question of "wait and see" in the hopes that a mild summer might allow the plant to recover.
    If you live in an exposed area that is prone to cold and damp during the winter then it might be a good idea to move the plant to somewhere more sheltered but be aware that this may kill rather than cure if the plant is feeling fragile.
  • marieclaire.wilsonTv2nM4ufmarieclaire.wilsonTv2nM4uf Posts: 3
    Thank you everyone, your help is much appreciated. There is a membrane under the gravel, but we removed a wide area of it and made a very deep hole for the tree when we got it, and did water it regularly for the first year or so. 

    I hear what you are saying about the conditions being dry at the root level. We are forecast about 10 days of rain where I am, so I will see what I can do to make sure some of that gets to the tree, and water more regularly if things turn dry again.

     It seemed to be doing well until this spring (so for about 2 years), and the lavender next to it has done well; I planted that roughly at the same time. But perhaps  I should have given it more attention for longer, before assuming it was OK and established :(

    Sounds like it might not be in right place ultimately - I think I will try the watering, see how it fares after the summer and then think about moving it if it recovers.
  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698
    Hope the little plant perks up soon. Good luck.
  • M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
    I grew one 4 years ago and it's straggly like a stick. I have others in the same border and they are giant. Not sure what's causing some to be crippled whereas others thriving. 
    I wish I could garden all year round!
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