Buddleia - a brief overview
- Botanical name: Buddleja
- Genus: Buddleia
- Family: Figwort family (Scrophulariaceae)
- Popular names: butterfly lilac
- Origin and distribution: subtropical and tropical regions of America, Africa and Asia
- Growth habit: shrub-like or as a tree, slightly or heavily overhanging
- Growth height: depending on the species between 200 to 500 cm
- Typical characteristics: flowers have a strong attraction for insects, v. a. Butterflies, bees, bumblebees
- Location: sunny to light penumbra
- Soil: moderately dry, well-drained
- Flower: arranged in panicles up to 30 centimeters long
- Flower colors: various shades of pink and purple, white
- Flowering time: mostly between July and September / beginning of October
- Leaves: elongated, toothed, pale green; Shedding leaves
- use: Ornamental shrub in gardens and parks, as a solitary, in groups, as a hedge or (small-growing varieties) in pots
- Toxicity: not very toxic, toxins mainly in leaves and seeds
- Winter hardiness: depending on the variety
Characterization, types and varieties
The summer or butterfly lilac is a busy summer bloomer that is usually grown as a shrub or subshrub. It bears a strong resemblance to the common lilac, which, however, already blooms in May. Both species give off a strong scent that is particularly irresistible to insects. Of the Buddleia can, depending on the species, grow up to 500 centimeters high and 300 centimeters wide.
also read
- Annual growth in buddleia - how big does the shrub get?
- It is better to cut off faded flowers on buddleia
- Common Buddleia diseases and what to do about them
Not related to the common lilac
Despite their similarity, Buddleia and Common Lilac are not related to each other. Both species belong to different genera. Also the two best known Species of Buddleia, Buddleja davidii and Buddleja alternifolia, differ in their flowering and growth behavior. While the former blooms well into autumn, the Chinese or alternate summer lilac shows its blooming splendor between May and June. In addition, B. davidii on the young shoots, while B. alternifolia developed these on the previous year's shoots - this information is particularly important when it comes to cut an important role.
Tips
The Buddleia is quite undemanding when it comes to soil and care. However, when he is doing well, he reproduces very quickly. For this reason, in order to prevent spreading, you should remove the inflorescences immediately after flowering. For a targeted single-variety propagation, it is recommended to cut cuttings.