Dying buddleia

debs64 · 7 March

Hello all. Got a buddleia in the garden been there about 25 years I estimate and it’s dying. Just a mass of twigs with two branches with a few leaves on. I am thinking I will cut it back hard and if it doesn’t recover cut my losses but I always say them as indestructible so any ideas what I did wrong? There are 2 young buddleia in the same bed both flourishing. Hope someone can help.

Ladybird4 · 7 March

Hi Debs. I cut my buddleias back to buds just about 30 cm from the ground every spring and they flourish, putting on about 2 metres of growth every year. They respond very well to hard pruning. It sounds as if your old buddleia has not had this treatment but maybe the hard pruning you are thinking of doing now will rejuvenate it.

Fairygirl · 7 March

I agree - it's no loss either way as you have 2 more to take over.

They're pretty hard to kill, but it could be something else causing it - just old age, or damage in a branch and then decay setting in, for example.
If it's a different variety fron the others, you could do some cuttings -literally cut pieces off and stcik then in a pot. They take very readily. I often use the pruned branches for sticking in around soft perennials or bulbs for supports, and they start growing by the end of the season

AnniD · 7 March

I think 20 years is pretty good for a buddleia Debs, and as @Ladybird4 says. a hard prune will probably benefit it a great deal.
I don't think you've done anything wrong, like all plants they can suddenly die off for no obvious reason. They are incredibly tough, but let's face it we've had some extremes of weather over the last few years.

debs64 · 7 March

Thanks for the advice it’s a particularly nice dark purple so cuttings would be a good idea I think. The others are Lilac and white. Maybe it’s just old age. Will cut it back hard, take cuttings and keep everything crossed.

Thanks again.

Fairygirl · 7 March

I can send you a cutting if you like @debs64. I have Black Knight, which is a dark purple.
I've got a cutting growing away in a pot just now - for the reason I gave earlier. If yours don't take, just let me know.

debs64 · 8 March

Thank you @Fairygirl I am planning more gardening on Saturday weather permitting and will let you know how I get on.

Fairygirl · 8 March

Just give me a shout if you want a cutting/small plant @debs64. I've nowhere left to put another buddleia, and most people I know that would like one either don't garden, or live too far away to deliver in person anyway. It would go in the compost bin eventually

Dying buddleia

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