Sorry, Sharon. The jury's still out. First winter for them. I have one that I started from seed and another that I purchased. They really got big in one season. My seedling ended up about 3' tall and the pot got taller than me. I mulched them quite well and they are along the south facing fence. Fingers crossed. I'll let you know in the spring. Love the blooms, though.

Shauna

I tried this quite a few years ago starting a seedling. It grew quite quickly, though certainly not as big as Shauna's, maybe only a foot high by the end of summer.

It threw out one cluster of purple blooms in September. Based on that bloom, I can see why people love this plant so much, it was very pretty.

I tried overwintering by mulching a bit but no such luck. Maybe if I had started with a more mature plant it might have made a difference, or perhaps a more sheltered spot.

Glen

Sharon, i bet if you grew it in a pot you could overwinter it in your pump house.

Ahhhh, that's an idea Marcia. I'll try mulching a plant with straw too.

Last winter and this winter have been awesome, if this trend keeps up will have to change our zones to 4/5 ;)

Sharon

This is buddleia 'bi color' as grown against the southeast side of my home. In the summer of 2005 it had flowered away for approximately two months, though this was diminished with last years HEAT. This will be the first year having to winter outside, though I have little concern considering it being covered by a deep layer of snow ... otherwise, in the future I intend to protect it well. I can't say as if it has a particularly nice fragrance, though indeed the butterflies seem to love it!

Terry

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v34/Twrosz/000_2139.jpg

Terry that is stunning! Thanks for your experience.

Sharon

I planted Black Knight summer before last. As I recall, it grew to about 5' that summer and was wonderful. Unfortunately I don't have any photos - that was before I had a digital camera :-).
Much to my surprise it overwintered and came up last spring. However, it only got about 18" tall and did not bloom. I think part of the problem was that it was kind of choked out by other plants. Moved it last fall, so will see if that makes a difference. That's if it survives this winter.....
Margaret

I wonder how the compact size of these new cultivars will do in our zone, these would be ideal for containers and easy to overwinter in a cold room too.
Height: 48-60"

Sharon

Here is a link that might be useful: English Butterfly Peacock

Sharon, from this collection, in 2005 I had grown "Purple Emperor" as a container plant, and indeed it was very nice! It had flowered heavily over a long period of time and the foliage was also rather appealing. Unfortunately, that fall when the plant was still lush and green, I had buried it deeply outside, and come spring it was completely dead ... this due to not being properly prepared for winter and all the water still being within the stems, they had burst open from the sap which had turned to ice ... guess, live and learn! If I can find another one I'm gonna keep it over in the cold room.

Terry

I planted two of these several years ago. They are in a garden that is on the west side of my house and get some sun early and lots late in the afternoon as the sun comes over. They die down every year but come back. They get tall and nice and green but no blooms. Right now there is one little tiny bloom spike that I hope will grow and color up but I wondered why they have never bloomed? I live in Northern Virgina..zone 7.

Terri

Hi Terri. You'll probably get way better answers to your question from the folks who know the Virginia climate - link to the Virginia forum below.

Shauna, any sign of yours?

Here is a link that might be useful: GW Virginia forum

Terri, wow buddleias should be more than hardy for you. Maybe you should try a different variety. My aunt in England had two buddleias that were very big & old and never had dieback at all, and the north-east of England is the equivalent of zone 6 or 7.

Regrettably, both of mine were deader than doornails this spring. The one that I bought has a rootball so big and strong that I will need DH to take it out. I'd have more luck digging out a full size tree stump, I think. I left it this long just to make sure there was absolutely nothing coming up from it but no such luck. They were both placed on the side of the fence that gets direct south exposure and they were mulched with garden refuse.

For me, this is going to end up ranking up there with Wisteria, I think.

Shauna