Hi everyone .......... I have a question and thought that I would turn to my fellow Texas gardeners for info/advice........ I have a "Black Knight" Butterfly Bush that is in its second year and growing like crazy ......... my question is concerning deadheading spent blooms ..........it appears that they probably should be cut off, but my question is where?
any info greatly appreciated.
Cut the bloom off, cut just underneath the main flower bracts.You will notice you have two more on each side of the main bloom, cut those the same way. Each time you cut the secondary blooms it will send out two more. They will be smaller blooms each time and eventually stop. If you want to trim the entire plant wait till Fall and give it a hard prune. Butterfly bushes have larger blooms on new growth rather than letting it get huge. I hope You can understand this, I stink at explaining things. Your looks beautiful!
Sounds good to me, and I was just checking for the same thing for my Pink Delight.
"eyes"
JA Your bush is really pretty. I had a pretty butterfly bush last year and the year before in my butterfly pond. It wasn't a Black Knight though. It didn't come back this year... yet. I'd think if it was going to, it would have done so already. I really miss it and have vowed NOT to buy any plants this year.
Are the dead heads the seeds? (Hopeful look here) I saw one of these beautiful Black Knights at a local nursery. Rather than leave those ugly dead heads there, I plucked them and put them in my pocket. I'm sure they appreciated my making their plant look better. :*/ I sprinkled the stuff in my butterfly pond and am wondering if I'll get one of them from my efforts.
Janet
Hi janet, I think most of the Buddleja davidii are sterile. But, I'm a seed swiper too, always worth a shot.lol There is a native buddleja that may grow better for you. I can't remember the name...maybe some one can help. I would like some seed of those too.
That reminds me I'm going head over to the plant I.d. forum. I bought a butterfly bush last year that has done noting but sit there. The foliage looks totally different from davidii. So, any Buddleja experts please head that way;0)
thanks everyone,
Cocoa, that bf bush right there looks completely different than it did last year ......last year the leaves were snall and sort of waxy looking and then this year it put on major growth and all of the new leaves are broad and porous looking as in the pic...
I will see if i can find a last year pic for comparison.
james t
Hi James, Those geniuses over on the I.D. forum got it. I believe mine is a Weeping Rostrinucula, which goes by the common name Weeping Buddleja but it's not a Buddleja at all...confusing,huh. LOL
I do know what you mean about the foliage and stems changing as the bush get older. There is a BB in town that the owner never prunes and it's a huge wild looking thing, just gorgeous in bloom!
no kidding !!
