I successfully winter sowed Buddliea in 2010. There were two plants which grew to over six feet tall, flowered beautifully, but died after about 3 years. I am in Zone 5A (Canada) and I think they were planted in an area which was too wet. I decided to try again and got seeds from my neighbour who has two varieties, and I sowed my seeds just last week. I pressed the seeds in the mix, then covered them with just a dusting of mix, which I moistened with a spray bottle. November is a good time to harvest the seed. If you use a magnifying glass, you can see when the seed pods are opening and collect them then. I found they attracted black swallow tail butterflies.

This is an update to my post in February, after I sowed my seeds using the winter-sowing method. I had excellent results. Out of the many seedlings I saved two pots of two, which I grew on through the summer. Although they were still quite small, two flowered in the little four-inch pots. I transplanted them to their homes in October, and since we are having very warm temperatures, they are showing signs of growing shoots. I am looking forward to their blooms, and hope they do attract butterflies. I sow many flowers for butterflies and I had NONE this year...just the little cabbage whites. We really need to become serious about saving the planet.

Northerner how are your butterfly bushes doing? I have never intentionally sown buddleia seeds but have had them self sow a couple of times

Hi Greylady_gardener: So nice to hear from you after all these years! I am sure I am still growing plants in my garden derived from seed exchanges with you. My butterfly bushes bloomed beautifully the first year, but did not survive the second winter. I tried again but I believe the seed was no longer viable and the original bush from which I had collected seed (a neighbour's) also died that year. I was surprised because that was a large shrub - over 6 feet tall. Perhaps they are just borderline hardy here in Ottawa. The good news, though, is that the butterflies were back last summer. Monarchs, painted ladies, and cabbage whites, and I hope this year I will have some swallowtails.

Hello Northerner, it has been a while! I guess we both have some of each other's plants! :). I am able to grow butterfly bush as I am in a warmer zone than you... have five in my gardens...one of them is a volunteer that grew a couple of years ago. This year will be year three for that one. I do have them because of the butterflies. I also have some different kinds of milkweed in hope that monarchs will lay their eggs on them but although I am seeing some monarchs I haven't noticed any caterpillars.not sure that I saw any swallowtails last year... normally attracted to my lilacs. Will keep an eye out for them this year.