Buddleya Davina is a deciduous shrub, native to three continents (Africa, South America and Asia), which blooms 45 days a year and amazes with the variety of shades of its flowers. In this material, you will find out what types and varieties of buddley exist, what are the features of planting these flowers in open ground and subsequent care for them. Also in the photo you will see with your own eyes what David's buddley looks like.
Content
Key characteristics of budles
It is best to plant David Buddley on the sunny side of the site, so it will grow faster. And even 20-degree frosts are not terrible for this flower, provided they are securely sheltered. Buddleya is a shrub with many inflorescenceswhich smell very nice, exuding a honey aroma. This flower has many other names, for example:
- autumn lilac;
- honey bush;
- magnet for butterflies.
In the wild, buddleys grow in many regions of the world:
- in the Caucasus;
- in South Africa;
- China, etc.
However, now this flower has already been actively mastered by gardeners, breeding work was carried out, new varieties and species appeared, flowering times have become longer. In total, over the past 100 years, 150 species of budley have been bred, these are both cultural and hybrid varieties.
Decorative features of the budley
Budleia shrubs are very common in gardens, they perfectly complement landscape corners, look great in groups against the backdrop of lawns and mixborders. Also, these flowers are sometimes used to mask outbuildings or pipes, and they also equip a hedge with their help.
The key advantages of budleia as an ornamental plant are:
- variety of shades;
- different forms;
- harmonious combination with other shrubs, as well as roses and other flowers.
Designers often create compositions based on the transition of tones.... And after pruning the lower branches of the bushes, they are great for planting in flowerpots to decorate stairs and terraces.
Flowering time
The blooming period of the budley lasts from July to September, sometimes to October. In total, buddleya can bloom for about 10 years, and if grown from cuttings, flowering can begin in the first year of its life. Spectacular flowering and a unique smell - all this makes the buddley of David an indispensable component of any garden.
Types and varieties of flowers
As already mentioned, there are more than a hundred different varieties and types of this plant. But below we will tell you about the most common in Russia.
Buddley of David
The classic plant variety is a voluminous bush up to 3 meters high. The ends of the branches have a drooping arrangement. The root system is superficial. In order for flowering to be continuous, you need to remove the faded panicles... This species blooms from three years old, the flower is able to grow up to 2 meters during the season. In autumn it gives small seeds, propagates by cuttings.For successful growth, the following conditions must be met:
- landing on the sunny side;
- calcareous soil;
- timely watering and irrigation;
- regular fertilization;
- insulation for the winter.
Black Knight and Nano Blue
This shrub grows to a maximum of 2 meters in height and has purple-colored inflorescences. Planting in partial shade is possible, needs regular watering, winter care is possible without shelter. Well suited for group plantings.
A species like Nano Blue has a funnel-shaped crown and will grow in height and width by 1.5 meters. The leaves are elongated, their reverse side is gray and velvety, the inflorescences have a violet-blue hue, the branches are bent downward under their weight. Needs sun and fertile soil.
Pink Delight
This shrub is very tall, erect and spike-shaped inflorescences, have a pink tint. The aroma is honeyed and thick. The crown after winter is replaced by new shoots and gives an increase of three meters per season. Loves light and drained calcareous soils. Can be grown with low shrubs and herbaceous perennials.
Royal Red and Flower Power (bi color)
This flower is distinguished by its red-purple inflorescences, which have a drooping arrangement. His the height is 3 meters, the plant also has a wide crown... It grows quickly and recovers well after winter. The optimal soil is calcareous and neutral, sufficiently drained. Also buddlea of this variety loves water and light.
There is a variety called Flower Power. There are also varieties of tri color flower, depending on the number of shades. In this case, there are two of them:
- purple;
- Orange.
This shrub is tall and spreading, it is distinguished by its warmth. Its inflorescences are fluffy and fragrant and can grow up to 40 cm in length. AND on the reverse side, the leaves are drooping, yellow or white... Flowering begins from the second year of life. During the growing season, new shoots up to 2 meters long grow on the site of the frozen crowns. This species tolerates winter well.
Buddleya David: planting and leaving
Photos of the listed and other flower varieties can be found on the Internet without any problems. Planting and care features depend, among other things, on the growing region. So, in South Africa, shrubs cover the entire immediate area... But in Russia it often happens that a buddleya, who loves a sunny color, cannot always give ripe seeds on time. Therefore, in gardening, cuttings of this plant are often practiced.
Transfer to soil
When the flower pulls up well, it is dived and transplanted either into separate containers or into open ground. It all depends on what climatic conditions and in what condition the seedlings are. Landing in the ground is good when the ground warms up enough after frost, and this is April or even May. After planting, the site should be mulched using straw or peat.
It is not necessary to water the buddley too often, periodic rainfall will be enough for it. But dry soil is also not favorable for her, so this moment of leaving must be kept under control. To transplant an adult bush, you do not need to do anything in advance, it is enough to know its characteristics and requirements for care conditions.
Sowing seeds and cuttings
The sprouts are prepared in advance before planting:
- in early February, seeds are planted in pots and allowed to germinate;
- the container is covered with earth abundantly, observing an indent from the edge of about 3 cm, then watered;
- planting seeds should be carried out in moist soil;
- seeds are not sprinkled, it is better to cover with foil;
- the room must be well ventilated and have adequate lighting;
- after planting, the plant germinates within 4 weeks.
For sowing, it is recommended to use a well-drained substrate, which contains sand and humus in equal proportions. From above, they are covered with a thin layer of soil.
The temperature for germinating seeds at home should be about 25 degrees. The protective film must be removed only after the first leaves appear... When three leaves appear, the seedlings should be planted in peat containers. Flowering occurs after transplantation in the second year of the plant's life.
And if we talk about cuttings, then the cuttings should be prepared immediately after the flowering of the plant at the end of September. They must be 20 cm high and have at least 3 buds. At the bottom, the stalk, together with two buds, is buried in the loosened soil. For the winter, it is covered with a film and sprinkled, leaving a small air gap. Cuttings will start growing in the spring after the soil warms up. On average, they grow up to 60 cm per season, sometimes they bloom before the cold weather.
What is needed for flower growth
Buddley of David will grow better if you follow these guidelines for her care:
- the plant should be well lit by the sun... When the garden grows, the source of the shade must be removed and the plant transplanted in the sun. At the same time, keep in mind that an adult budley does not really like transplantation. Also avoid wind and drafts;
- the soil must be properly selected and pre-treated... It is best if it is calcareous and well-drained. You need to feed it with the onset of spring and in the middle of summer with nitrogenous dressings. Flowering and growth will be better if you use organic fertilizers, as well as fertilizers based on phosphorus and potassium;
- water the plant so that the soil is always moistbut not drenched. In summer, you need to spray the crowns of the bushes with water;
- prune the plant regularly... This stimulates good flowering and rejuvenation of the plant. In the first year, this should be done in March, cut the buddley in half, cutting off weak shoots. In the second year, you need to cut off new growths to two buds, as well as all old branches by a third. In subsequent years, pruning is needed to remove young growths for and crown formation.
How to prepare a plant for winter?
Despite the fact that buddlea is a frost-resistant plant, it still needs to be prepared for the cold season, especially in the first year after planting in open ground.
Cuttings, for example, are able to withstand a maximum of 10-degree frosts, therefore at colder temperatures, the bushes need to be wrapped up, and the runners should be cut to 15-20 centimeters... Then the bush is covered with a box covered with polyethylene. It is placed on a brick elevation, and sprinkled with leaves below.
The box will not be needed if the cut bush is sprinkled abundantly with straw and manure, and covered with spruce branches at the top. If you prepare a buddley for the winter correctly, then after a while you will enjoy the incredible flowering of a healthy bush until autumn.
The rules for planting and caring for a buddley are not that complicated. If you do everything correctly and do not be lazy to care for the plant, you will be very satisfied.
Ivan Vinogradov
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