Description of the buddley plant, advice on care and cultivation in the open field, methods of reproduction, the fight against possible pests and diseases, a florist note, species and varieties. Buddleja (Buddleja) belongs to the genus of flowering representatives of the flora, which are part of the Scrophulariaceae family. A little earlier, these ornamental trees and shrubs were included by scientists in the buddlejaceae family of the same name. The territories of Asia, southern regions of Africa and the American continent are considered the native habitat of natural growth. At the same time, buddleya is an endemic plant of these places, that is, in other regions of the planet, it is not possible to meet it in the wild. Although in many sources there is information that China is emerging as the true homeland. Feels good in tropical, subtropical and partly temperate climates.
| Family name | Norichnikovye |
| Life cycle | Perennial |
| Growth features | Tree or shrub |
| Reproduction | Seed and vegetative (cuttings) |
| Landing period in open ground | Rooted cuttings, planted in August or May |
| Disembarkation scheme | Between seedlings 0.4–0.5 m |
| Substrate | Wet, loose, nutritious |
| Soil acidity | pH 6, 3–6, 8 |
| Illumination | Open area with bright lighting and draft protection |
| Moisture indicators | Moderate watering, drainage recommended |
| Special Requirements | Unpretentious |
| Plant height | 2-30 m |
| Color of flowers | Pinkish, whitish or turquoise, red, yellow, orange or purple |
| Type of flowers, inflorescences | Panicle or globular heads |
| Flowering time | July-October |
| Decorative time | Spring-autumn |
| Place of application | Squares and parks, as a tapeworm |
| USDA zone | 5–9 |
The plant got its scientific name in honor of the botanist and cleric from England Adam Baddle (1662-1715), who was engaged in compiling a description of the English flora. Due to the fact that during the flowering process a sweet honey aroma spreads over the buddlea plantings and mainly butterflies, ladybugs and bees fly to pollinate it, it is popularly called the "butterfly tree" or "butterfly magnet". As the flowering process stretches until late autumn, then among flower growers there is the name "autumn lilac" or "orange-eye", which characterizes the color of the flowers.
If we talk about the number of Buddleja species, then, over almost a century of breeding history, their number has reached 150 units. The plant can take the form of a shrub or tree. There are deciduous or semi-evergreen varieties. The height of the shrubs can vary in the range of 2–5 meters, tree-like forms can grow up to a height of 30 m. On the branches, leaf plates unfold, differing in lanceolate-oval outlines. The top of the leaf is characterized by a sharpness, the length of the leaf often reaches 25 cm. The color of the foliage is a rich green color.
The buds begin to bloom in the middle of summer, and this can last until October. The flowers are combined into a panicle inflorescence, which in its outlines resembles lilac, the aroma of the flowers is somewhat similar to hyacinth, but more honey and sweetish. Flower shoots form in the axils of the leaf plates, and because of this, when the inflorescence blooms, a new pair is formed in its place. Moreover, on each branch you can see both unblown buds and flowers with fruits. The buddleia flower is small, while if the species is Asian, then from the buds, terminal panicle inflorescences are formed, which are measured in length of 10-50 cm. In American varieties, the inflorescences take the shape of spherical heads.
The color of the petals in flowers is also quite diverse: Asian species are mainly pastel colors (pinkish, whitish or turquoise), varieties of the American continent of bright colors (yellow, orange or purple). It is also noted that in the "moth trees" growing in the South of America, inflorescences are formed from elongated red flowers. With this vibrant color, the plant attracts hummingbirds for pollination.
After pollination is over, small fruits in the form of a capsule ripen in the "autumn lilac". The fruit reaches 1 cm in length with a diameter of 1–2 mm. A large number of small seeds are formed in this capsule. There is a small fraction of the species, mostly early belonging to the separate genus Nicodemia, in which capsules have a soft surface and fleshiness, with their outlines reminiscent of berries.
Most often, this ornamental plant is planted in public gardens, city parks and flower beds, as well as in private gardens. At the same time, Russian gardeners successfully grow in the middle lane varieties of buddlei, which are able to withstand a decrease in the thermometer column to -20 units, but the southern regions are more suitable for the cultivation of this highly decorative plant.
Buddleya: growing, planting and care in open ground
- Landing place The moth tree should be sunny and protected from drafts and cold winds. But it is better to find a place away from trees so that their branches do not block access to the sun's rays.
- Priming for an ornamental buddley bush, a moist, but loose, nutritious, with neutral acidity pH 6, 3–6, 8. If the soil is loamy or heavy clay, it is recommended to deoxidize it and add nutritious organic matter (humus or compost).
- Landing. To place a buddleya seedling on a chosen place in the garden, you need to dig a hole 60x60 cm in size with a depth of about 0.7 m. A 15–20 cm layer of drainage is laid on its bottom (Peter Peat expanded clay from the Vita line, small-sized rubble or pebbles). For the soil mixture, which is used for planting, rotted compost (2 years old), coarse sand and sod substrate are combined, while the ratio of 2: 2: 1 must be maintained. You can also use the purchased ready-made composition Peter Peat "Garden Earth" from the Hobby line. Also, the composition is mixed with the Peter Peat mineral complex "NPK 15-15-15" from the Mineral line - this will contribute to successful adaptation and subsequent growth. Disembarkation takes place in the last week of May. The distance between the seedlings should be at least 40-50 cm. The plant is carefully removed from the planting container (only if it is not peat) and set without destroying the earthen lump in the prepared hole. The upper edge of the clod of earth should coincide in height with the general ground level. The hole is covered with a prepared substrate and squeezed slightly. After planting, the buddley seedling is watered (6–8 liters of water are needed per bush) and the trunk circle is mulched with straw or peat.
- Fertilizers. When buds form on the plant in spring, nitrogen preparations are used (for example, nitroammofosku). The second time you need to feed the "autumn lilac" in the middle of summer and in the first September decade - use superphosphate or any potassium-phosphorus fertilizer for shrubs that do not bear fruit, which is mixed with 200-300 grams of wood ash (per 1 m2) and humus (almost 3 buckets per bush). For the third time and all subsequent times, you can add mullein diluted with water in a ratio of 1:12.
- Watering it is carried out every 7-10 days (in the morning or in the evening). For an adult buddlea bush, use 10–12 liters. It is important here that the soil does not become waterlogged, as rotting of the root system is possible. If there is little rain in summer, then they use up to 15 liters of water and spray the deciduous mass from fine garden tools twice a week. Since the root system is close to the soil surface, the soil can be loosened no more than 3-4 cm deep.
- Pruning buddley. When the bush reaches 2-3 years of age, then in March or early April, the branches are shortened. On the shoot, young growths are cut into two buds and all last year ones are removed to the level of young branches. When the weather becomes stably warm, then all old or diseased branches are cut off, if the shoot has become taller than 90 cm, then it is also shortened to this length. When it is rainy weather, it is recommended to cut off all faded inflorescences so as not to provoke a disease with gray rot.
- Wintering "autumn lilac". Although some species are frost-resistant, it will be useful to provide the bushes with protection for the winter. To do this, the branches are cut off, and then a good layer of fallen dry leaves, sawdust or hay is poured over the bush. Then you can put a wooden box or other rigid structure on top.
Breeding methods for buddley bush
Lilac buddleya can be propagated by both seeds and cuttings.
The first method is rather painstaking. Before planting buddley seedlings in open ground, it is necessary to prepare seedlings. At the beginning of February, the seeds are planted in a seedling box with a mixture of peat and river sand, or you can mix sand and humus (parts are taken equal). The seeds are placed on moist soil and they are not sealed, or they are only slightly covered with a thin layer of the same substrate on top. From above, the container should be wrapped in plastic wrap or a piece of glass should be placed on it - this will be the key to high humidity during germination. The temperature is maintained at about 25 degrees, it will be necessary to air the crops daily. Moisturizing is needed every three days.
Budleia seedlings will appear after 4 weeks. Only when the first pair of leaves unfold on the sprouts can the shelter be removed. When a third leaf appears on young orange-eyed eyes, you can pick through individual pots made of peat. This will help then save buddley seedlings from transplanting, and such cups are placed directly in the prepared hole in the ground. The flowering of such plants can be expected in the 2nd year from the moment of planting.
When grafting "moth tree", the best time will be the end of flowering (August). The workpieces are cut from the tops of the shoots, so that each cutting has 3-4 buds and 10-15 cm. The lower leaves are removed, and the cut is treated with a root formation stimulator. The cuttings are planted in loose nutrient soil, for example, a mixture of sand and compost. Then the buddlea seedlings are watered abundantly and the cut plastic bottle is placed on top. Under such a shelter, they will be until rooting. Wintering of young "autumn lilacs" is carried out in the same way as for adult bushes - under careful cover. Growth activation in such plants will begin as soon as the soil is sufficiently warmed up in spring. It is this method of reproduction that allows you to preserve all the specific properties of the mother bush.
In another case, the cuttings are cut in March-April, when the pruning is carried out. Planting is carried out in greenhouse conditions (23-25 degrees) using root stimulants. When the end of spring comes, rooted cuttings can be planted outdoors.
Fight against possible diseases and pests of buddleya
The plant is quite resistant to diseases and pests, but aphids can occasionally cause trouble. If a harmful insect is found, then it is necessary to spray the bush with insecticidal preparations, like Aktellik, Aktara or Korbofos.
It happens that there are no obvious violations of care, but the "autumn lilac" stubbornly does not bloom. Here it is worth making sure that the following conditions are met:
- transplant the plant to a sunnier place, carefully protected from drafts and cold winds;
- planting bushes should be free so that the plants do not interfere with each other with branches and do not block the sun's rays;
- pruning of buddleya alternate-leaved is practically not carried out, so as not to damage the shoots of the last year;
- Despite the unpretentiousness of the "moth tree" to the soil, it is recommended that it be fertile, drainable and neutral in acidity (pH 6.5–7).
Flower grower on a note about buddley
There is evidence that David's stem cells are actively used in cosmetology due to their anti-stress properties.
Important to remember
The type of buddleia holly differs from others in that generative buds tend to be laid on the shoots of the last year, if you prune them or simply damage these branches, then the flowering will weaken. The buddleya has been actively living for only ten years, but a bush grown from cuttings will start to delight flowering in a year.
Types and varieties of buddley
Budleja David (Buddleja davidii). It is found under the name Buddlei volatile or Nicodemia. The native habitat is in the Chinese territories. It is a voluminous shrub, characterized by a high growth rate (so it can increase by 2 m during the season) and large size, with branches reaching 3–5 m. The flowering process begins in July and ends in mid-autumn. The root system is located close to the soil surface. The tops of the branches have drooping outlines. Narrow leaf plates unfold on the branches. Small flowers are collected from decorative panicle inflorescences. To prolong flowering, it is recommended to remove faded panicles. For the winter, this species requires shelter.
Among the popular varieties are:
- Pink Delight. This fast-growing shrub can reach up to 3 m, and the shoots are distinguished by sloping outlines. The color of the flowers is silvery pink. From them, elongated inflorescences are collected, reaching 0.4 m. The flowering process stretches from the beginning of summer to September, often until the first frost.
- Royal Red on this bush leaves of a dark green color unfold. When blooming, purple-red flowers bloom, with an orange center. From the buds, inflorescences with a length of 20–35 cm are collected. The flowering process takes time from mid-summer to September. The height of the bush is 2, 5–3, 5 m with the same diameter, its shape is spreading.
- Adronis Blue. The height of the shrub will be indicators that are in the range of 120-150 cm. The color of the flowers connected in inflorescences is bluish-purple, while the panicles themselves are measured 25-30 cm.
- Flower Power. Native lands fall on Chinese territories. The height of this shrub plant reaches 2 m, the length of the inflorescence is no more than 30 cm. The color of the petals in the flowers is violet-orange. The form is frost-resistant and can do without shelter even in regions with long and snowy winters. The flowering process lasts 30–45 days from August to October. Abundant flowering begins when the plant reaches 3 years of age.
Buddleja alternifolia (Buddleja alternifolia). The natural habitat is the northern regions of China. Prefers open areas. In height, the shrub can stretch up to 4 m, its outlines are spreading. In the process of flowering, small buds bloom with lilac petals. Flowering begins in June and lasts 20-25 days. The species is fast-growing, easily tolerant of drought, is distinguished by frost resistance and is promising for landscaping the southern Russian regions.
Narrow-ear buddleya (Buddleja stenostachya). It is found naturally in the mountains of the western Chinese regions. The height of this shrub does not exceed 3 m. It is characterized by an increased growth rate, flowering annually from August to early autumn. During flowering, it spreads a strong honey aroma. Panicle inflorescences are collected from small lilac or purple flowers.
Video about buddley:
