Buddleia 'Black Knight'

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Sheal, Apr 14, 2011.

  1. Sheal

    Sheal Total Gardener

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    Hi all,
    I've been checking out Buddleia 'Black Knight' on the internet and have come across conflicting descriptions.
    Has anyone got firsthand knowledge of this plant please. The height and spread seems to differ quite a bit. Anything from 3x3 metres to 5x5 metres. :)
     
  2. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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    Hi Sheal, I've had Black Knight, Empire Blue, White Cloud, and Globosa for years. Black Knight, on my sandy soil, is bigger than Empire Blue and White Cloud, [Globosa is very straggly and completely different in habit.

    I would say, to be honest, that Black Knight leans towards the larger size, Sheal, but if you wanted you could try to control it with secondary pruning after the annual one:D
     
  3. Sheal

    Sheal Total Gardener

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    Thanks Armandii,
    I think it might be a little to big for the area I want to plant it in. I too have sandy soil and know Buddleia's haven't got a problem with that.
    Have you seen the new Bi-colour.........got my eye on that one too.:WINK1:
     
  4. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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    Gosh, Sheal, I don't think I could fit another Buddie in!! The oldest one is the Empire Blue which is about 30 years old and with a tree like trunk.

    I've not seen the bi-colour buddie yet, but I'll look it up - but don't tempt me:D:heehee:

    I'm not to sure about the new "fashionable" dwarf buddies though:scratch:
     
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    • Aesculus

      Aesculus Bureaucrat 34 (Admin)

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      Bi-colour is gorgeous although I have yet to see it in the flesh so to speak... and I totally agree with you opinion of dwarf buddleja 's in fact I'd go further and say that if you want a dwarf plant pick something else instead of a watered down version of magnificent plant!
       
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      • Kristen

        Kristen Under gardener

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        I cut my Buddleias down to 18" or so every February. They don't grow more than 6' or 7' maybe my memory is playing tricks and they do get to 3M.

        To get it to 5M you'd have to just leave it, and not prune it annually (and even if you forgot one year, you could still cut it down the next).
         
      • bambooruth

        bambooruth Gardener

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        i did have the black knight and he was huge about 8ft tall,ive just recently got the bi colour not flowered yet but hoping for flowers this year
         
      • Sheal

        Sheal Total Gardener

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        Thanks all,

        Bambooruth...........that's not fair, you've tempted me even more now! :)
         
      • ARMANDII

        ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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        Kristen, do you know what varieties of Buddleia's you have. Both of Empire Blue and White Cloud will only go to 7' :thumbsup: but the Black Knight is a different "kettle of fish" so to speak!}:DOH:
         
      • Kristen

        Kristen Under gardener

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        I have Black Knight, and a White one (forgotten the variety) and several others. Clearly I don't look after them very well as 6' is about the average for mine, with the old "limb" getting to up 7' as far as I can remember.

        Maybe my dark one is called something else? I'm pretty sure it has Knight in the name, and I would have sworn (dangerous that!) to "black" as well.

        Is there another Black ??? or ??? Knight variety perhaps?
         
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        • ARMANDII

          ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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          I doubt very much that you don't look after any of your plants very well, Kristen:D , and it is probably is the Black Knight variety. But as you know, as well as I do, that there is a lot of mis-naming of varieties of all kinds of plants, and there are quite a few "sports" that get given the name of a recognised variety. If it is a Black Knight then it's less vigorous growth might be down to your soil or whatever, or maybe your particular Black Knight is just not programed for being as vigorous as normal - who knows:scratch:, it's all part of the joy and mystery of gardening:thumbsup:
           
        • Kristen

          Kristen Under gardener

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          Ah .. the Midget Suffolk Black Knight it is then ... :)
           
        • ARMANDII

          ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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          Just a small matter then, Kristen:D:heehee:
           
        • penny_lane

          penny_lane Gardener

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          Ooooh the bi colour looks very pretty, I might have to get one of those to go with my two pink ones :sunny:
           
        • Kristen

          Kristen Under gardener

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          Not seen one in-the-flesh, but I see various things about Height and Size ... this site has Bi-colour taller than Black Knight for example ...

          Buddleia, Butterfly Bush
           
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