Hi all,
I have planted a Buddleia this spring as I wanted a bush like plant to fill out he pictured planting patch.
At the the time I purchased the plant (from a reputable nursery) it was recommended as a good plant for heavy clay soil for my garden.
Now I learned that it is an invasive plant that needs controlling and that the roots are strong enough to damage buildings so decided to take it out before it gets out of control.
Would any of you have suggestions what I could replace the plant with? Ideally something that will not take down my house and that grows to a decent height circa 1.5m.
by That_Heavy_Metal_Guy
20 Comments
I like deutzia and syringa! Flowering bushes that grow to around the size you want
Viburnum carlesii ‘Aurora’ is lovely and compact, with amazingly fragrant flowers in very early spring.
It’s not an invasive plant, any more than any other non-native plant we put in our gardens. You see a lot of drama in US gardening subs about non-native plants. Invasive usually means that it outcompetes and therefore eliminates native plants. But non-native itself is not necessarily an issue. If we stuck to native plants, our gardens would look very different.
There are ‘wild’ buddleia and yes they are enthusiastic and will grow just about anywhere. But yours is not one of those.
The buddleia is fine. Keep it!
You can move it to a large pot to control its size and spread
It’ll been fine, just keep it cut back to the size you want it as it grows, it grows back quickly with loads of flowers so will look its best if you do this.
I’ve had several and dug out a couple when I wanted something else in their place and it was no big task.
I’m not sure where the “buddleia is invasive” thing is coming from. If you Google it, the AI response says it is invasive, but its first source literally says the opposite. It doesn’t appear on the government or RHS lists of invasive species as far as I can see. I’ve never had a problem with mine spreading much, it self-seeds a bit but so does half my garden. Maybe “buddleia is invasive” is invasive…
If you want something that is around 1.5m and attracts butterflies Actea Simplex would he my shout. It’s a herbaceous perennial that dies back each year but it will definitely attract the butterflies and it grows to about 1.5m I doubt that will ever have issues with roots given it is herbaceous
Honestly my dude, a buddleia that size is not going to cause you any problems.
If you like it, keep it. And enjoy the butterflies that come with it.
Buddleia is only invasive if it grows where you don’t want it.
We put one in a pot expecting it go wild – its barely grown any in the 5 years we’ve had it.
Is it a “Butterfly Candy Little White” Buddleia? If so the nursery gave good advice and it will cause no problems.
Wild buddleia is not so much invasive as it has an impressive ability to root in weird places, making it a building conservation nightmare if no maintenance is done for YEARS. The baby plants are easy to yoink.
Appreciate all the comments everybody. Seems like I succumbed to internet fear mongering and nearly ripped out a good looking plant loved by the neighborhood insects.
Based on the advice of all you lovely people I shall leave it to continue to be enjoyed by bees and butterflies without worrying that it will start growing through my skirting boards.
There’s over 150 cultivar types of butterfly bush, not all are “invasive” prolific self seeders that grow in cracks. A lot of the newer types are sterile. So which one did you buy? Should be a name on the label or pot.
Lol you’ve “learned” a load of shit about buddleia
It’s fine
Buddleja davidii as the species level plant is invasive because it spreads prolifically and is tolerant of pollution.
However, as this is a cultivated variety the seeds may be sterile, and the growth habit will likely be different. In this spot in the garden, as long as you maintain it with a bit of pruning once a year, it’s highly unlikely this plant will damage infrastructure.
Infrastructural damage from buddleja usually occurs when seeds spread to the sides of buildings, up on rooftops and inside pavement cracks, and especially if the horticulture on site isn’t managed properly.
I’d keep the plant, but check to see what variety to figure out whether it is fertile or not. Even if the seeds are fertile, you can easily remove the seed heads and deadhead.
Its probably not an issue but if you want to plant new plants afterwards consider natives. Mallows like Lavatera are quite lovely, Lilac is native. Sedums make huge flower shows. There are some amazing Salvia cultivars. Catmint, oregano and so on are native.
The fear of roots damaging foundations is overstated, its only true for older build houses who dont have solid foundations to begin with. Buddleia doesnt really do that anyway.
Not invasive, but you can get random ones growing in unusual places depending where seeds have been blown or dropped by birds, e.g. half way up a stone wall. I have several buds in my gardens. Ideal along a fence line as privacy screening.
You can get a dwarf variety. Regular plants will grow up to 20ft+ if allowed to. I always cut them back end of Autumn beginning of winter.
https://preview.redd.it/xnuwlfjrrzef1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=62c64ce22c8ec098b0530658b0b2ca417b8755b1
I have plants/shrubs that have randomly appeared in my garden, obviously from seeds that are either airborne or dropped by birds. I guess they are “invasive” as such??
Yes buds pop up all over the place but they do not take over gardens like proper invasive weeds or plants. Buds in the wild will self seed as not being managed hence in someone’s post regarding lots seen along railway lines.
I had to cut one down in my garden last week as it appeared to be dying. It’s within 6ft of the house.
That looks like a miniature (dwarf) buddleia, much different to the big wild buddleias. The miniatures usually only grow to about 60cm/1m. The others grow many feet tall. I think you’re OK with this one.
You can buy compact buddleia (I’ve got one) which will grow to approx 80x80cms. Try to find out which version you’ve got before replacing/moving it.