Buddleia globosa - should I prune?

[goosey]

Autumn 2006 I bought a Buddleia Globosa, which flowered, albeit very disappointingly (4 flowers) summer 2007. Now it looks woody and leggy though it has some new growth coming on the stems – it actually resembles palm trees. BTW it is in a pot and is about 2 foot tall.
I didn’t prune it last year as I read, with a Globosa - a slow growing plant it should not be cut back hard like a Davidii only cut away dead wood or to thin out. Now I have seen contrasting advice which says cut back hard! What shall I do?
Thanks

[naturelover]

Hi goosie,i can help you with this one,yes you do need to prune a budlia it only flowers on new wood,i take it about 8 to 10 ins above the ground,if its a young tree,only do this if you have good lower shoots,if not cut above the best low shoots,best to do it in march like roses as we are still getting frosts,hope this helps.


Bett.

[Wightman]

I had a globosa in my old house, and it did very well growing to over 12 feet, attracting multitudes of insects (mainly bees, and moths at night). It is different to davidii and should be cut back after it flowers and not as hard. But beware, mine grew to the size of a small tree!

Hope this Helps
Gary

[Bwrack]

We have had a B. Globosa for probably twenty years..we were much seduced by glorious pictures of it in various catalogues....to say it is vigorous would be an
understatement !! invasive would be more correct...have tried all sorts of
pruning methods..but....sadly its flower production is virtually nil..

[stripee]

I have had one of these for a while, it is a rather scraggly plant and although it has small orange balls, and they don't seem to attract many butterflies. I killed a buddleia by pruning it severely and now I leave one or two branches intact just in case I've overdone it. The other buddleias I have, davidii and cultivars, have larger beautiful flowers and are very attractive to butterflies, so globosa isn't my favourite

[naturelover]

When you said budlia i got mixed up thinking you meant the purple budlia, sorry i dont know this one so please ignore my post.

[goosey]

Um! mixed reviews about this shrub - last year even though it flowered so poorly it was a hit with moths and butterflies - which is why I would love to have more flowers this year.
I will cut a little off each stem now, and hope for plenty of regrowth and flowers - thanks

Originally Posted by naturelover

When you said budlia i got mixed up thinking you meant the purple budlia, sorry i dont know this one so please ignore my post.

Don't worry Betty - it's the thought that counts, thanks for replying! I imagine most people think of the big purple type when they think of buddleias.

[Wightman]

I must have been lucky - mine flowered extremely well. The only other thing I can say is it needs full Sun

Gary

[Susie]

Sorry to hijack the thread but my query is, sort of, connected. I have heard that buddleia globosa can be disappointing but that the yellow buddleias, weyeriana - sungold or honeycombe - or the mixed colour - bicolour - are better. Does anyone else have one of the above and how do they compare to globosa?

[Wightman]

Just wondering if everyone has been cutting back globosa the same as davidii? Don't. It's important to wait until after it flowers, as it flowers on the previous years growth

Gary

[Jez]

Cut back in at the beginning of April just as you would Lavatera

[hobble]

Cut one third of wood after it has flowered.

[goosey]

Thanks all - I just hope I get some flowers this year to cut back after .

[Wightman]

Originally Posted by hobble

Cut one third of wood after it has flowered.

Agreed

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Susie

Sorry to hijack the thread but my query is, sort of, connected. I have heard that buddleia globosa can be disappointing but that the yellow buddleias, weyeriana - sungold or honeycombe - or the mixed colour - bicolour - are better. Does anyone else have one of the above and how do they compare to globosa?

I had a Buddleja x weyeriana + it was attractive to bees + hoverflies but don't remember seeing any butterflies on it + I do get plenty of butterflies in my garden most years.

[Kayleigh]

Just looked in my gardening book. It said trim lightly after flowering..It just says what most others have said..