skip to main content

Butterfly Garden

Buddleia blooming in zone 6/7 still

15 years ago

I have 60 buddleia in our one-acre butterfly sanctuary and 7 different varieties. Of these, all but one stopped blooming at least 2 weeks ago. However. all 7 of my honeycomb butterfly bushes still have plenty of blooms. They are located throughout the sunny portions of our butterfly sanctuary and are mixed in with the other 6 varieties of buddleia. I haven't noticed this feature of honeycomb butterfly bushes in previous years, but it may have happened. Have any of you experienced this?

mike

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

butterflyman
15 years ago
I notice that honeycomb is less hardy than other buddleia.
I'm a bit wary about growing it in St. Louis.
Do butterflies seem to like it as much or less than other buddleia?

60 plants is a lot to deadhead, but I bet it is spectacular when it's in bloom.
butterflymomok
15 years ago
Mike,

My Honeycomb is still blooming here in NE Okla, zone 7a. Actually all my buddleia are still green and producing some flowers, though minimal. They are fast becoming the only nectar source left.

Butterflyman, I have had good luck with Honeycomb once I found the right place. I mulch heavily. Honeycomb and Bicolor are two BF favorites.

Sandy
Related Discussions
Transplanting LAVENDER 'out of season' zone 6/7
Q
Comments (6)
A friend told me different species of them behave differently, but my experience is not much luck. I bought one labeled just 'lavender' in a 3" pot last year, didn't plant it, didn't baby it over winter (sat on porch) and then this spring, to my surprise IT CAME BACK. Left it alone to establish, it came back in full force, finally planted it -- and now it's dead. Point being. It could take all the neglect and abuse it got from being forced to live it a 3" pot over winter and sitll survive, yet it could not handle being put into the ground a few weeks ago, BEFORE it got really hot (and I kept it watered). So that's my experience. Can't tell you the issue, but if Birds & Blooms has a search on their site, try that. Probably 2009. I remember an excellent article about growing lavender, how to properly plant, etc. Maybe it has some hints???? Good Luck !!!
...See More
When to prune in 6B/7 zone?
Q
Comments (13)
I'm in Zone 6 and I do not cover the base with soil/mulch. Of course, my neighbors on two sides have hugh oak trees near the property line--oak leaves blow over to my yard all winter long, so I guess you could say I let nature give my roses a bit of protection, but even that is very little on many of the roses. That said, I do have 3-4 HTS that are a bit iffy in Zone 6. I may throw some extra mulch around them, or make sure the oak leaves surround (and stay around) them, but the others get to fight it out on their own. Occasionally I do that for a new rose that hasn't been very vigorous its first season in my garden, but that is it. I've never lost a rose due to unprotected winters, and the only time my roses suffered was two years ago when a very late, very hard freeze damaged a number that had to be cut back to a few inches from the ground. But winter-protecting them would not have helped. They had been in active growth for 3-4 weeks when that big late freeze occurred. As to autumn-pruning back an extra long cane, I always heard that you should not do that unless it is so long that the winter winds may whip it around and break it off. Kate
...See More
OT: Late spring blooms in zone 6/7
Q
Comments (25)
Your gardens are beautiful and perfectly manicured! Red Charm looks wonderful....if I had room for another peony, I think that's one I'd like. Some of the smaller purple alliums grown here, but I love the idea of five feet tall ones! I'm also a big fan of heucheras. This year was the first year that I had all return (knock on wood) as I've lost one or two most years. I have a small collection. They've been spectacular this spring...especially one called Georgia Peach. Well, having said that, I couldn't pick a favorite. Interestingly, I grow mine with epimediums, so it sounds like in more shade than you do. Day before yesterday, I planted two new ones, Plum Royale and Pinot Gris. I'm trying them in areas with a bit more sun. Snow Angel was problematic for me, but I'm hoping this time (the third go round), I've figured it out. It overwintered in a pot last year...in a more sunny area, so it is planted with more sun than most. The mock oranges look to be blooming soon here...can't wait for their fragrance now that the daphnes are pretty much done. Thanks for posting such lovely pictures...especially on a rainy day.
...See More
Blooms zone 6/7
Q
Comments (17)
Floota, You have, as always gorgeous blooms beautifully photographed.There are so many to satisfy those of us who love purples and reds. Toucan Sam is really, really lucious. I am very fond of Lucky Streak and the pictures of Amethyst Tears and Alechymist are beautifully showcased. I love Karol Emmerich's and your are a real ad for them, and Michael Davisson is beautiful! Altogether a very satisfying visual vist to your garden. kay
...See More
caterwallin
15 years ago
Wow, Mike, and I thought I have a lot of butterfly bushes. Your 60 puts my 8 buddleia to shame. That must be a fulltime job just deadheading them! Whew! I do have some volunteers that come up from seeds that I miss when deadheading. Someone had emailed me one time and warned me about them being invasive in the mid-Atlantic states, so I have to try to make sure I deadhead them. I don't know if it's so much of a problem with ones that get mowed around because they're out in the lawn, but the ones that are in beds might become a problem if I don't deadhead them...I really don't know. Right now I have a small one coming up in one of my pots where I had my swamp milkweed in this year and last year, which I reckon I'll pull out since I already have plenty. I've never tried the honeycomb one, so I can't give you my comments about that. Do you have any/many come up on their own from seeds dropping? Maybe, unlike me, you manage to find every single seed when you deadhead. ;-) I think it's great that yours have been blooming so long! I bet the butterflies have loved that! :)
Cathy
mcronin
Original Author
15 years ago
Butterflyman and Cathy,

Thanks for the empathy on my deadheading work with 60 buddleia in our one-acre butterfly sanctuary. FYI, I've added to my deadheading work by letting many of the buddleia grow 6-8 feet tall because the butterflies seem to prefer nectaring on the taller branches. I have to use a tool for pruning TREES to reach the tops of many of our buddleia. As I lapse deeper into "old geezerdom" the deadheading seems more overwhelming each year.

FYI, I've yet to discover a single buddleia that has grown from seed in my 14 years of butterfly gardening.

mike
butterflymomok
15 years ago
Cathy,

I have gotten lazy in my efforts to keep my buddleias deadheaded, and as a consequence, I am finding small buddleias in my bed. However, these are easy to dig up and make nice gifts for friends who want to start a BF garden.

Sandy
tiffy_z5_6_can
15 years ago
Mike,

All of my Buddleias actually come from seed. Started them 5
years ago and have been growing more from seed since then. I am not meticulous at deadheading but they don't reseed in great amounts. I had one show-up next to a Hydrangea this year and it was so beautiful I'm leaving it there.

The seeds mature in the months of December and January here so I still have plenty of time to deadhead. :O)

As per the blooms, they stayed well into late October which was really nice. :O)

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Ceanothus Pleases With Nectar and Fragrant Blooms

West Coast natives: The blue flowers of drought-tolerant ceanothus draw the eye and help support local wildlife too

TREES 6 Unsung Spring-Blooming Trees

Billowy blooms and rare fragrances will make you wonder how these flowering trees could ever have been underused in landscapes

GARDENING GUIDES Top 12 Summer-Blooming Perennials for Deer-Resistant Drama

Can you have garden color, fragrance and exciting foliage with hungry deer afoot? These beauties say yes

MOST POPULAR Spring Gardens Are Blooming — Here’s What to Do in April

By Annie Thornton

Get the guide you need for gardening in your U.S. region, with tasks, climate-appropriate plantings and more

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Plants for Colorful Fall Blooms in the Drought-Tolerant Garden

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Want fall color but not a big water bill? Consider these not-too-thirsty fall bloomers

FLOWERS AND PLANTS Vitex Agnus-Castus Fills Gardens With Fragrant Blooms and Foliage

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Spikes of purple flowers adorn chaste tree’s aromatic foliage throughout the warm season in Southern gardens

GARDENING GUIDES How to Prune Your Flowering Shrubs for the Best Blooms

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Less is often more when it comes to properly pruning flowering shrubs. Here’s what to do and why

DINING ROOMS New This Week: 6 Modern Dining Zones in Homes Big and Small

By Mitchell Parker

Look to splashy accent walls, right-sized tables and indoor slides to make the most of your open layout

BATHROOM DESIGN 7 Reasons to Give Your Bath Zone a Living Room Vibe

By Natasha Saroca

With a few living room–like touches, you can transform your bathroom into a practical, relaxing retreat that’s overflowing with personality

GARDENING GUIDES Boxwood: Still Shape-Shifting After 350 Years

By Mary Jo Bowling

Wild or mild, the humble boxwood still brings style and order to all kinds of gardens

Sponsored