butterfly bush from seed

pvel

12 years ago

How difficult is it to grow Buddleia from seed? Thanks

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Comments (8)

bob_71
12 years ago
In many places, they are considered as an "invasive" species due to their prolific seed production and their easy germination. Most of the more spectacular varieties are hybrids and while they produce seeds, they will not usually be "true" to the parent plant...i.e., plants will be different colors and will have different growth characteristics. If you are just after butterfly bushes, they can be considered easy to grow.

Bob

Bob
Tony G
12 years ago
I grew 3 white profusion from seed last year. 2 were white and the other was a more vigorous grower and purplish. (maybe it has cross bred?)

I also got 8 zinnia zahara plants at a sale. Only one turned out to be the "true" flower. The rest are either red or white.

Depending on the species of butterfly bush, cuttings may be a better option for you. Good luck, Tony
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We had a rare mild winter in north central CT as well when the lowest temp I recall was nearly 30 degrees above last year's lowest mark. The leaves on all my butterfly bushes, both commercial & seed-grown, remained green right through the winter. Here's what Bluestone Perennials says to do: Plant Care: Flowers form on current growth. Should be cut back to 12-18" each spring. Will quickly grow back with many flowering canes. I bought 'Black Knight' from BP a few years ago and it's done wonderfully well. I cut it back to 8-10 inches in spring/March when I see new growth at the base. I'll do the same this year since I don't care to see it grow to massive proportions where it's situated. I see no point in leaving the old growth since it won't produce blooms this season. I grew several butterfly bushes from seed via winter sowing that will also be cut back the same as 'Black Knight' since they bloom on new wood. For me, the whole point in growing butterfly bushes is the flowers that provide nectar that attract the butterflies.
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Hi Sue, My experience with B'Fly Bushes is that they're very much like hollyhocks or columbines and will cross with any other hollyhock or columbine in the garden, if not neighborhood. However, the progeny are always lovely and delightful. So, the thing is that the seeds will be fertile, but if the plant was grown with other butterfly bushes nearby there's a very strong likelihood that its seeds are crossed. You won't have to wait long to see what you get as most B'fly bushes will bloom their first year from seed. If it was me, and I had those seeds, I wouldn't hesitate to sow them. Whatever you get it's still going to be eye-candy.
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Hey flowerbuds! I've been growing Buddleia from seed for 4 years. I use the little plastic berry cartons from the grocery store. Use a very fine textured seed starting mix, slightly damp. Press it into the carton and sprinkle seeds on top, tamp them down and mist them gently. Set the carton in a shallow bowl of water and let it drink from below. This will only take a few seconds. Place it in bright light. Bottom heat will speed germination but I find it dries the mix too fast, so I don't use it. The berry cartons have slits in the top and bottom and since they're clear, it's easy to see the mix drying out. Ventilation is easy too. They're perfect for starting Buddleia. The seeds are a little slow, give them at least 30 days to germinate and keep them gently misted until then. Keeping the lid shut will reduce how often you need to mist. Always BOTTOM water!!! I initially transplant mine to 16 oz. styrofoam cups with holes punched in the bottom, then to 1-gal. pots. Buddleia davidii will bloom first year from seed. I've had great success with the berry cartons, if anyone wants to try it. I've tried winter sowing this year for the first time, so I'll have to report on that later:) Your flower bud, Sharon
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I'd like to give Liatris ligulistylis (aka Monarch Magnet) a second try, since my first attempt was a failure. I should have sown them in the fall instead of winter. I want to see if some crushed Purple Milkweed seeds I got through a trade last fall will still germinate, or try to find seeds. These are not easy to find. I have some other seeds in the fridge I didn't get the chance to grow last year that I'll sow this year, and there are some others I want to purchase, but I have no idea where to plant them. My beds are full, unless I make new ones, but my boyfriend I think is getting tired of all these new beds popping up everywhere. So what's a plantaholic going to do? Expand on existing beds! Karen
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avisrapax
12 years ago
Any more information on this would be great - I have managed to start 3 buddleja plants from mixed seed (so I have no idea what species/cultivars they are) and whilst they're fairly vigorous they're not growing very fast.

Sown last August, indoors, they overwintered and then grew very quickly in spring but seem to have stalled since they were put outdoors. At the moment they are in large, well drained pots in the sunniest spot in the garden - any idea why their growth seems to have stalled at about 6 inches tall?
Tony G
12 years ago
The ones I started from seed last summer grew very slowly. In August they started to take off and each produced one flower head in early fall. This year they are growing much faster and will be full of flowers. Give them some time...
avisrapax
12 years ago
Thanks, coolbutterfly - so long as I know that they're 'normal' for their age then I'm happy to let them be =)
jjdbike
12 years ago
Invasive is such a negaive term : ) I planted 4 and they plant volenteers all around my yard. I love it. I leave the ones in places I like & give the ohers to friends!
JD
mamasllamas
12 years ago
well I got some broken branches from the home depot store they took right off, I've just about every color now LOVE THEM! not invasive here! whack them back a few inches from the ground if they get too tall. they're just like forsythias in our area
msmorningsong
12 years ago
pvel, I give mine a regular dose of appropriate amount of 'Osmocote' plus fertilize weakly with blue Miracle Gro every two weeks. I bought mine as seedling plants in Feb. They are already about 3 ft. tall. Perhaps the fertilizer and Osmocote is doing this, Osmocote has extra trace minerals that MGro does not. Correct me guys if I'm wrong, I don't have the bottle sitting here to read ;)

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butterfly bush from seed

Comments (8)

bob_71

Tony G

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