Looking for advice on how to plant Buddleja this spring? Through this informative guide, we will share all our best knowledge and tips on the planting, arrangement and aftercare for your Buddleja shrubs. When it is covered in butterflies, no other garden plant brings so much pleasure on a summer’s day!

Buddleja, also known as Butterfly Bush or Buddleia, is one of Britain’s most popular summer flowering shrubs. Buddleja comes from Asia and there are more than 100 species that have spread from northern India, China and South Africa to Central and South America, largely after being introduced by the great plant hunters around the beginning of the 20th century.

Planting

Buddleja are superb additions to the garden for attracting wildlife with butterflies and bees being big fans of this shrub. Known for their burst of colour and their distinct tubular fragrant flowers, this vigorous, deciduous shrub is the perfect choice for summer blooms. Here are our guides to planting out in the garden and in containers for easy planting this spring.

In the Garden

Great for long-term borders/rockeries. They perform best when planted in full sun (or at least in partial shade) and in fertile, well-drained soil. Dependent on the variety, plant around 5 to 10 feet apart for a gorgeous display. Plant Buddleja in spring or in autumn before the first frosts and water thoroughly after planting.

Tips

• When planting, loosen the soil and mix in compost and dig a hole twice the diameter of the plant container.
• They will not perform well if grown in soil that tends to retain a lot of water in the winter.
• Do not plant under trees.

In Containers

Use a pot deep enough to contain the roots and heavy enough to weigh the plant down. Make sure the pot has a good amount of drainage holes to allow the roots to breathe. Place the pot in full sunlight and water regularly. Cut the plant back around 10-12 inches in late winter or early spring.

Our Tips

• Whisky Barrels make great planters
• Avoid garden soil which becomes heavy/compact in containers.
• Dwarf varieties like our Miniature Collection are the best choice for pots and containers.

Aftercare

• When in bloom, you can snip their stems for honey scented cut flower bouquets.
• Buddleja can be pruned hard after flowering, and you should cut shoots back to strong buds/younger growth.
• We recommend reducing plants by half in autumn when they are grown in windy positions.
• Removing the dead blooms and watering the plants in very dry conditions will bring butterflies flocking to your Buddleja plants.
• You can take softwood cutting in late spring just as the stems begin to harden up a little.

 Explore our full Shrubs & Trees range and shop all our varieties, from Buddleja to Wisteria and everything in between!