Token said, "If you get a frost, they won't finish.", in regards to Buddleia seeds/pods. A frost will not hurt the seeds in terms of them maturing. The frost will take the leaves but the seeds will continue to develope. I collect mine sometimes as late as January. There are times when I've gone out to check the seed pods in late November and they are STILL undone. ARGH!! My pods are just forming at this point in time. The Buddleias here only start flowering in late August so every year, in the 'dead' of winter, I collect the seeds and trade away. I know the seeds are viable by the multitudes of seedlings I get the following year. :O)

Debra - I was just at a plant farm in Stillwater, OK yesterday. They had pots of tuberosa that had not yet sprouted. If you looked really close at the pots, you could see the tiniest bits of green - but the average eye wouldn't even have noticed. Hang in there - they may come up yet. That being said, I actually lost a tuberosa plant and have no idea why - it had been there three years - was large and beautiful last year - not sure why it didn't come up. The others in my yard are already up and about 6 inches tall. ~Laura

I have a butterfly bush ("Black Knight") that I grew from a cutting from the original I planted at my previous house. I agree, that these are tough plants. I don't prune mine back hard like some do. I prefer mine to be on the larger side. Butterfly bushes sprout leaves from the center out, most likely the tips would have eventually sprouted, but pruning helps keep them looking good. I usually prune mine throughout the season, even while blooming, to keep the size and shape in check. This seems to cause no harm. I have even cut back whole branches in the middle of summer. The bush always seems to bloom its head off regardless. I've found that deadheading spent blooms is important to continue bloom and keep it looking good. Good luck with yours!

I have had one in the ground near Waco for the past 6 or 7 years and so far it has been evergreen for me. Starts blooming in the spring and is still blooming now. Mine does not set alot of seed but enough to be interesting to see. Mine has been fairly slow growing. Patsy