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Re:Buddleas





Valerie Lowery@ZEON
02/20/98 09:36 AM

Carleen,

There is a good article about buddleas in the current issue of Fine
Gardening.  A far as the height, it depends on which variety you get.  I
have a purple one (the name escapes me) that grew to about 7' tall and
about 4' wide this past summer.  Even though we had 22" of snow, for some
reason it did not die back to the roots this year like it normally does in
my zone 5/6.  My white one (again, I forgot the name) did not grow as tall,
but it also did not die back.  Perhaps it was due to our overly mild winter
(despite the snow).

They are incredibly easy to care for.  I've purchased from Bluestone
Perennials (800-852-5243) and received small quart pots ($4.25 each); but,
those plants grew to 5' the first year out and bloomed like crazy.  I'm
going to order the yellow one this year ($9.00) from Plant Delights Nursery
(919-772-4794).  They are in full sun, growing in ammended clay soil with
my roses.  So I think that they enjoy the same amount of water that I give
to my rugosas and shrubs -- which isn't much besides what nature gives
them.  Some say to clip the spent blossoms to encourage more blooming. I
find that I use the blooms so much in my bouquets that this will suffice
for the clipping.  I don't fertilize my bushes; however, I believe that
they must receive something from the fertilizer I put on the perennials
near it.  Last year I did put some horse manure around them -- it would
account for their abnormal growth rate.  I suppose in your zone that they
would grow even taller.

The bonuses:  deep perfume like lilacs (thus the name, summer lilac), great
cut flowers, and the butterflies head to it like bees to honey (thus the
other name, butterfly bush).  AND, Plant Delights offers two bushes that
have variegated leaves!  Gosh, could you ask for more!

Valerie
Zone 5/6
Louisville, KY (Ohio Valley)
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