Butterfly Bush, Summer Lilac, Orange-eye Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii)

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Clare_CA Ventura, United States(Zone 10b) Dec 08, 2003

Butterfly Bush, Summer Lilac, Orange-eye Butterfly Bush
Buddleia davidii

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Post #726476
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BradsPark Port Orchard, WA(Zone 8b) Oct 01, 2004

How do you collect seeds from these plants? Here, in the Northwest, there are many of the violet and white but the purple are few and far between. So I was excited to acquire a branch of newly dried flowers. Yet, when I carefully crushed some of these dried flowers, looking for seed, there appeared to be none. Is it possible they are so tiny I wouldn't see them amongst the dried petals? (My eyesight is great, by the way.)
Any insights would be appreciated. - Brad

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Clare_CA Ventura, United States(Zone 10b) Oct 01, 2004

Brad, I have one lavender Buddleia which produces numerous seedpods, but my dark purple one doesn't produce them nearly as frequently, but then I usually cut off the dried flowers right away anyway to prolong flowering when I can.

The seedpods are very small, but they are noticeable, and they do look different than a dried flower stalk. The pods are stiff and upright, and the seeds are like soft tiny feathers. When the pods look dry and split open slightly, cut off the branch and put in a paperbag and shake the seeds out, or you can shake the seedpods or crush them over a planting medium.

As a matter of fact, I just cut off some green seedpods today before they ripened and dispersed the seed. I dug them out of the recycle trash and took a picture of them so you could see what they look like before they become dried.

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Post #1074156
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Clare_CA Ventura, United States(Zone 10b) Oct 01, 2004

In this picture, you can see what the dried flower stalk looks like and how different it looks from a stalk with seedpods on it.

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Post #1074167
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Kell San Leandro, CA(Zone 9b) Oct 01, 2004

What a great vase full of delight!

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Clare_CA Ventura, United States(Zone 10b) Oct 01, 2004

Thanks, Kell! I made that bouquet after I pruned my bushes into standards. It was the wrong time of year really for pruning, but I got a nice bouquet out of it!

Post #1075076
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BradsPark Port Orchard, WA(Zone 8b) Apr 30, 2005

A very belated THANK YOU, Clare. I had a series of those small life-issues that can keep one from getting around to things one loves (gardening). But, I'm back and learning again thanks to selfless people like you!

And, with your info, I was able to see that I obviously had no seed pods. At least now I know what to keep my eyes peeled for.

Post #1437926
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Clare_CA Ventura, United States(Zone 10b) Apr 30, 2005

Hi Brad, You are quite welcome.

Life can be funny like that! I'm glad you're back, and I hope you get lots of flowers this year:-)

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Kell San Leandro, CA(Zone 9b) Nov 10, 2016

This is so pretty! I miss Clare around here. She is such a great gal.

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