The common B. davidii I have not had success with. I do have B. madagascariensis which I got from Fairchild a few years ago. It grows like a weed in basically full sun, sand and the only water is when it rains.

It's a little bit of an unruly shrub, but where I have it planted I could care less. Then again, I'd probably maintain it better if it were in a more prominent location in my yard.

I have 2 B. davidii. Each in identical half whiskey barrels. Same soil, etc. One is thriving, the other is at death's door. Both get full sun & are watered 1x per week by sprinkler system or when it rains. I'd love to hear from fellow GWs that can shed some insight.

Beverly

I am NOT an expert, but, I have found they like alkaline soil. The two I put in nearest the house have done the best. The two that I put in the soil that previously had pine trees growing died within a year. Mine do best with Eastern exposure. They have drip irrigation but do not like to be in wet soil. I killed one in the past near the foundation that got too much run off from the roof! I had tried one in my back yard but it was way too dry. I also have three different colors grouped near the house/driveway that are doing great! They get shade at different times of the day so are never in full sun for too long. I have clay and cement pots grouped around them to shade the soil and the water that drains out of the pots waters them also. I hope this helps some. Good luck! If all else fails replace them every year. I find they are cheap enough, smell heavenly and are great for cutting gardens. I liken them to lilacs (southern style.)

Buddleja davidii is very susceptible to nematodes in Florida's sandy soils. This weakens it and the long hot humid summers stress it also. I have never had them live through a second summer. The first year they grow great then the 2nd summer the start to decline and die. Sometimes they do this at the end of the 1st summer. Thats a shame, I love the color of 'Black Knight'.As mentioned Buddleja madagascariensis is a subtropical species that grows well here and lives long. I had one in my old yard, it got up to 8ft before I moved but it flowered all year and butterflies loved it. Supposedly it can get to 20ft but they tolerate pruning well.

Here at Leu Gardens we have had the same results with Buddleja davidii and the related hybrids. Besides Buddleja madagascariensis other Buddlejas that grow well are;

B. asiatica- nice dark green leaves that are silvery underneath. It gets big, 10ft easily. It only flowers in spring when it gets white flowers that are extremely fragrant. From SE Asia

B. cordata- It has huge, felty leaves that are silver underneath, bears creamy white flowers in late winter/early spring. From NW Mexico

B. indica- This doesn't look like a Buddleja at all. It has rounded leaves that are dark green and shiny. It bears very tiny greenish-white flowers, nothing showy. It makes a great screen or hedge in sun or shade, gets 5-7 ft tall. Decades ago it was grown as a houseplant and was known as "Parlor Oak" or "Nicodemia". Also from Madagascar

Buddleja is now the accepted spelling rather than Buddleia. Buddleja was what was originally applied but over the years it was corrupted into Buddleia and it stuck in the lterature. Below is a link to photos of these Buddlejas.

Eric
Orlando,FL z9b/10a

Here is a link that might be useful: Buddlejas at Leu Gardens

The two foundation plantings I have are 4 years in the ground. They originally came from TN.

I wanted to try to them in very large containers and I wonder if putting a concrete block in the pot would work? The one I planted next to my house died really quick so I think I must have pretty healthy nematodes.

zozzl,
if they're planted in containers, it's highly unlikely that they'll suffer from nematodes. even if they were introduced, the kind of nematodes (RKN) that attack b. davidii cannot survive in the kind of high-organic mix that even the cheapest potting soil contains. nematodes need lots of space between particles to move (sand gives them that), they suffocate quickly when organic material gelatinizes (when it's wet), and (they say) nematodes are very susceptible to attack by the kinds of bacteria that thrive in high-organic soil. the principle for using chitin additives in soil to prevent nematodes is based on the latter fact -- the idea is to introduce lots of chitin, which is basically what nematodes are made of (shell), which encourages the proliferation of bacteria that feed on chitin, which attack nematodes...

none of this was pertinent to your question. i'm on a research trip, and i'm trying to avoid doing research on something much less interesting than nematodes!

I'm certainly not an expert, but I'm here to tell you many a buddleja davidii has died on my watch. But I was given a rooted piece of Buddleja lindleyana and I can't kill it.

Zozzl, if you're coming to Solstice's Fall Swap, I'll make sure you get one of my Buddleja Lindleyanas. I'll warn you - it spreads by runners. I'd suggest keeping it in a container, unless you don't mind it taking over.

My garden is too small for it to run rampant, and I didn't realize it spreads like it does when I planted it. Plant first, ask questions later. When will I learn... Anyway, I'm going to be digging them out. But I'll keep one for a large container. It's so pretty. Check out the link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Buddleja Lindleyanas info

This isn't giving me much hope for the 5 I have in the ground atm. They've only been in a few months but my neighbors has been in for a year. Hers is a foundation planting mine is a fence with soil enriched with manure. I guess I better get some clippings going to keep them in the garden.

Thanks so much for all the info you guys! Very helpful.

Ill-mannered, that is very interesting about the nematodes. I have had a problem with buddleja in various areas in the ground and I am sure it must be the nematodes.

Nicki, I would love to get a piece of the buddleja at the swap,that would be great.

pat

Duranta repens is the answer to Buddleia for Florida gardens!

Hello
Would certanly agree with you on the D.repens. Have a "Sapphire showers " that is incredible.
How about the tropical Heliotroupe ??
gary

nicki, could you please save a piece of Buddleja lindleyana for me for the swap as well? I just looked it up - and oh, it is a beautiful plant....

Thank you :)
Olya

Alrighty then. Olya and Pat, they're yours. Just remember... they spread. :)

Two other things about Buddlejas--they don't like wet feet and they need to be deadheaded. Oh, and a third; they are like roses in that they really thrive with a good pruning in the spring. I guess they are like roses in that the nematodes get to the roots unless they are fortuniana. That's what we need--Buddlejas grafted onto fortuniana!

Mine usually last about three to four years. I have found the pink and white to be most preferred by butterflies--and the butterflies that prefer them are swallowtails.

Lots of mulch, lots of organic fertilizer and once established they will do well--but remember to deadhead.

Excellent point Tom123. How could I have neglected to mention that? I deadhead them every day or so and they stay covered in blossoms! Plus,I notice alot of worms under my pots when I am working around them. Maybe that is why I have good success with mine. The get organic fertilizer constantly!
Kat

Boy, these plants sound fussier than roses and I don't have many roses because I don't want all the work:) (Except knockouts). I appreciate all the info!

Pat

Nicki- Thanks for the info on the lindleyana. Wish you were next door....I would yank up some.

Yes , dead heading is very inportant. But I have noticed that my butterfly bush is the first to wilt when it gets dry . When the last low came thru ( barry) ?? and we got 7 inches of much needed rain, everything perked up except the buddleia....it suffered and lost some leaves. It doesn`t like to be dry or wet. I am keeping my eye out , i may need to put it in a pot and over summer it like I do my ivy geraniums.

Pat~ These are tempermental but I wouldn't say require a lot of work. I am a bit obsessive about deadheading because I just love the results. You don't have to prune that offen, but, if you do they just look that much better. They are right by my drivway so I grab the pruners pretty often and snip the spent blooms.
I pick them up for $3.99 so feel they are worth the price and once you've got them growing in the right spot they are wonderful and the fragrance is such a bonus!
Kat

Kat,

Where do you get them for 3.99?

pat

Pat~ I get them from a nursery in Jupiter. E-mail me for more info. momofcfr at aol dot com
Kat

Jupiterplants - I could try mailing you a sucker. It might work, although it's pretty hot, and it could die in transit. But we could try it.

thanks for the offer, nicki! I am really hoping I can make it to the swap :)
Olya

I'd been thinking about "Black Knight", but after all this, I may just have to keep it in a container. Do they need alkaline soil?