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How to grow Buddleja (butterfly bush) in the UK
Long purple flower spikes that are covered in butterflies in summer.
- DifficultyEasy peasy
- WhereBeds or Pots
- Sunfull sun
- Grows to250cm
- Spacing150cm
- Time to first pickabout 12 weeks
- Typeshrub
When to sow, plant and harvest buddleja (butterfly bush)
| Plant | mid March to late May or mid September to late October |
|---|---|
| In flower | early July to late September |
Dates are for central England. Sow about two weeks later in the north and Scotland, and up to two weeks earlier in the south and south west. Get the dates for your postcode.
Planting it
- Water your new plants in their pots first
- Dig a hole a bit bigger than the pot
- Tip the plant out gently, holding the leaves, not the stem
- Pop it in the hole, firm the soil around it, and water well
- Space the plants about 150cm apart each way
Top tips for growing buddleja (butterfly bush)
- Cut it right back to knee height every March - it flowers on the new growth.
- Choose a dwarf kind like 'Buzz' for a small garden or pot.
Soil and feeding
Poor soil - really!. Nasturtiums flower best in poor soil. Feed them and you get all leaves and no flowers.
Harvesting and eating buddleja (butterfly bush)
Count the butterflies! Snip off dead flower spikes for more flowers.
Saving your own buddleja (butterfly bush) seed
Late spring or summer.
- Snip a soft, non-flowering shoot about 10cm long, just below a leaf
- Pull off the bottom leaves and push it into a small pot of gritty compost
- Cover with a clear plastic bag and keep it out of hot sun
- In 4-8 weeks it grows roots - a new plant
Where to buy buddleja (butterfly bush) plants
Thompson & Morgan · Suttons · Amazon
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Buddleja (butterfly bush) questions
When do I plant out buddleja (butterfly bush)?
Plant buddleja (butterfly bush) out from mid March to late May or mid September to late October.
When can I enjoy buddleja (butterfly bush)?
Buddleja (butterfly bush) is ready from early July to late September. Count the butterflies! Snip off dead flower spikes for more flowers.
How long do buddleja (butterfly bush) take to grow?
Roughly 12 weeks from sowing or planting until the first harvest.
Are buddleja (butterfly bush) easy to grow?
Buddleja (butterfly bush) are rated 'easy peasy' for beginners, and can be grown in the ground or a raised bed or in pots and containers.
Plan your own garden: it tells you what to do and when, for your postcode.
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