Subject: Re: The Amazing Butterfly Bush and Temperate Zone winters

From: [email-masked]
Date: Thu, 09 May 1996 15:39:43 GMT

Burris <[email-masked]> wrote:

>I have a short question here for any budding :-) botanists out there
>who are familiar with the Genus - Buddleja. This includes a number of 
>shrubs native to the tropics and subtropics of eastern Asia.

>One species which is sold as an ornamental shrub (tiny clustered purple 
>flowers) is referred to as the Amazing Butterfly bush (because the 
>flowers attract butterflies).

>My question is simply: Can this shrub survive the harsh conditions of
>winter in the temperate zone?

>Thanks.

>Burris

Well, at least it grows in the Botanical garden here in Stockholm,
Sweden (at 60 degrees N), attracting lots of butterflies, I might add,
especially Vanessa atalanta. I don't know if they have to protect it
somehow during winter, but I wouldn't think so. 

Cheers

Soren Nylin

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Soren Nylin
Dept of Zoology
Stockholm University
S-106 91 Stockholm
SWEDEN

Tel +46-8-164033
FAX +46-8-167715
EMAIL [email-masked]

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From: [email-masked] (Beverly Erlebacher)
Date: Fri, 10 May 1996 01:40:46 GMT

>winter in the temperate zone?

The common ornamental species in this area is Buddleia davidii.  Up here
it usually dies to the ground over winter, but comes back from the roots
every spring.  This doesn't seem to harm them any.  The common ones have
dark purple flowers, but there are named varieties with flowers in other
shades of purple, blue and red, as well as white.

I think B. davidii originates in northern China.  They are easy to find
in plant nurseries and mail order catalogs, and even show up in the seasonal
plant sales at supermarkets, chain stores, etc.  You can also grow them
>from  seed without much difficulty.

Beverly Erlebacher
Toronto, Ontario Canada

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From: [email-masked] (Kenneth Nilsson)
Date: Sat, 11 May 1996 20:30:41 +0100

Buddleias don't have to be protected here in Stockholm Sweden.
There are several in my neighborhood and the do get bashed a bit by cold
winters but never die. In fact they have to be severly pruned anyway to
keep shape. And teh butterflies do love it. Swarms around the bushes.
Probably the best butterfly attracting plant you can plant.
For Stockholm/Sweden climate/weather you find some info on my Fuchsia
Homepage (address below).

"We can't live without Nature but Nature would do beautifully without us"

Visit my Fuchsia homepage at

http://www.klippo.se/nilsson/home.html
Kenneth
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