Buddleia

I was wondering :cnfs: Last year while out for a stroll i broke a piece off a Buddleia, when i got home i pulled off the side shoots ,pushed 4 into a corner each of a square pot, and left them in the corner over winter,

Result 4 little Buddleia, i gave 1 to next door and have 3 ,only 4" high , left.

So 2 of them have very straight mini trunks, I was wondering is it possible to grow them into standards.I have never seen one that i can recall ,but could it be done :skp:

 

You've got a couple to play with Pamsdish.

I think it would work so you could give it a try and let us know how you get on.

You'll probably end up with more as they seed themselves about the place.

 

Buddleia bush up, and I think they benefit from being cut down to about 24" each February.

I expect they would be happy as a standard, although I think all the mega-growth they make each year might make the main stem vulnerable if it has a huge "head" on it - e.g. maybe a strong wind could snap the trunk of a standard.

 

It can be done. There is living proof in the mother-in-law's garden.

 

Hello there Pam

I have a standard buddleia and the trunk is very thick, I have had it for about five years and I staked the trunk for the first couple of years as it was a little flimsy and,as Kirsten said, a large head in a strong wind would most certainly have lead to disaster. The trunk now stands free and is good and thick and is more than adequate for the size of head that is produced every year, I cut it right back to within 3 inches of the stem and back it comes with 24 inch branches and huge flower heads ,which the butterflies love.

 

It can be done as mentioned, just pinch out any side shoots and obviusly cut the top growth back hard late Autumn/ spring.

In order to keep the growth checked budliah responds to a prune mid summer and still flowers albeit a month later. I use this method to create staggered flowering periods in clients gardens.

 

I remember you saying that last year Pro. Do you leave some old growth, to prune late, or do you prune the whole thing back in Winter and then re-prune some of the new growth to create late flowering branches?

 

It certainly seems as if its worth a try so i will take some pics and save a little picture diary,

I love doing something like this ,theres so much satisfaction in all your own work :gnthb: