What are the disadvantages of a butterfly bush?
While beautiful, butterfly bushes, like the summer lilac, are less than ideal plants to have around due to their invasive growth. Butterfly bushes reproduce quickly and can easily smother other native species in your garden. Buddleia davidii, commonly known as butterfly bush, is a non-plant species known for its ability to grow in inconvenient and often damaging locations. If left unmanaged, invasive buddleia can cause structural problems, particularly when it grows in hard-to-reach areas like walls, rooftops and chimney stacks.Butterfly Bush Risks Butterfly bush aggressively spreads to new areas by seeds. Butterfly bush forms dense thickets. It displaces native plants and alters habitat for wildlife.Many people cut their butterfly bush back in autumn, as part of their fall clean up. But particularly in cold climates, this can leave your butterfly bush more susceptible to damage over winter. Do not prune until you see green buds on the stems. Make your cuts just above where big, healthy leaf buds have formed.What happens if I don’t prune my butterfly bush this spring? Your buddleia will still grow if you don’t prune it, but the growth will start from the existing frame.Butterfly bushes do not need to be pruned every year. In fact, you only need to prune them when they get too large for the space allotted. But since butterfly bushes only bloom on new growth many gardeners prune them severely each spring to encourage lots of new growth and lots of flowers.
What is the lifespan of a butterfly bush?
The average life expectancy of a butterfly bush is 10-20 years. Consequently, once older bushes begin producing fewer flowers, it is time to consider replacing them. Buddleia has deep roots and produces a lot of seeds, which allows it to spread and take over an area easily. Removed from its natural environment, the butterfly bush can become an aggressive invader. When planted in gardens or along roadsides, it can crowd out native vegetation and change the local ecosystem.Buddleja davidii is the most common variety, identified by the fact that it flowers on this season’s new growth. It’s a robust shrub but can quickly become untidy if not pruned, with the flowers appearing so high that only the butterflies can enjoy them.We recommend applying a granular rose or garden fertilizer in early spring, then again in late spring and early summer. Never fertilize a butterfly bush past late July, as doing so can interfere with dormancy. The best time to prune butterfly bushes is in spring, once the new growth begins to emerge on the stems.A friendly reminder that Butterfly Bush, AKA Buddleia or Buddleja, is not a Monarch host plant and it is considered highly invasive in many states. While butterflies will come to it for nectar, please choose other plants and don’t overlook our wonderful natives like Ceanothus and Mock Orange.Butterfly bush is very cold hardy and can withstand light freezing temperatures. Even in cold regions, the plant is often killed to the ground, but the roots can stay alive, and the plant will re-sprout in spring when soil temperatures warm up.
What are the benefits of Buddleja?
The medicinal butterfly bush may be useful as a diuretic and pain reliever with powerful antimicrobial activity. In traditional Chinese medicine, Buddleja flower buds (mi meng hua) are used for eye complaints including bloodshot eyes, eye secretions and sensitivity to light. Otherwise known as the ‘butterfly bush’, buddleia (Buddleja) is one of the best nectar shrubs you can plant for butterflies. It attracts a wide variety of species, including red admiral, peacock and small tortoiseshell. The Buddleja davidii, Buddleja x weyeriana and Buddleja globosa varieties are the best options.The answer is yes, you can – with caveats. Growing a butterfly bush in a pot is very possible if you can provide this vigorous shrub with a very large pot. Keep in mind that butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) grows to heights of 4 to 10 feet (1-3 m.
What is the lifespan of Buddleja davidii?
Behaviourally, Butterfly-bushes are deciduous shrubs with a relatively short lifespan, typically living for 10 to 15 years under optimal growing conditions. They are fast-growing and can reach heights of up to 3 meters, making them ideal for adding height and interest to garden borders or wildlife-friendly areas. Butterfly bushes grow very fast and can reach mature size in 1 to 2 growing seasons.Butterfly bushes are full sun plants. That means they should get at least six hours of bright sun each day. It doesn’t need to come all at once – it can be in chunks throughout the day. In very hot climates, a bit of afternoon shade is permissible.Butterfly bush cuttings should be taken in the spring or summer to be rooted and planted before winter. It will take several weeks for roots to grow, and the young plant needs time to settle in before colder temperatures arrive.Butterfly Bush is a problem in the environment in several ways. First, it out-competes native plants, taking up the space they need. Second, because it produces abundant nectar, pollinators often ignore flowers on native plants, depriving them of the pollination they need to reproduce.
What is the controversy with Buddleia?
Buddleia attracts pollinators away from other native plant species, making it less likely that their flowers will be fertilised. This means that fewer seeds will be produced and the populations of the worst affected plant species goes into decline. While it’s not illegal to have Buddleia on your property, it can quickly become invasive if not controlled. The roots grow into areas like walls, guttering, and foundations and may eventually cause structural damage.The Buddleja davidii is considered an invasive species with a strong tendency to spread. It can grow up to 2 m per year, depending on the variety.Buddleja davidii responds well to pruning and neglected shrubs can be rejuvenated by cutting back hard. Later in the season, deadheading faded blooms back to a pair of strong shoots is worth the effort as it gives a tidier appearance and can result in a second flush of flowers.It is difficult to contain and is known to push through brickwork, masonry, drains, cavity walls, and exploit cracks or weaknesses. This means buddleia has the potential to cause costly repair bills or even render a property unsafe or uninhabitable.Buddleias are slightly different than a lot of other perennials in that their upper branches have not been killed back by frost. They stay remarkably green all winter and will start growing from any of the existing green growth when the weather warms.