Fountain Butterfly Bush

A fountain butterfly bush is a colorful plant, with rich green foliage, and flower panicles that come in all possible shades of blue and purple. Also known as Buddleja davidii, fountain butterfly is a perennial shrub, that has a delightful, sweet aroma that attracts an array of colorful butterflies. For some, this is the reason it is known as a butterfly bush. It blooms from midsummer through September, hence the name summer lilac is also given to it. Silver fountain butterfly bush, is another variety of fountain bush, and is equally popular for its blue gray or sometimes silver, fine textured foliage.

Description
The bush grows tall and slender, and can reach a height of nearly 15 feet. Its long, slender branches require training, else it tends to become a tangled mess with poor quality flowers on its panicles. A full-grown fountain bush resembles a weeping willow. As they are perennial, they bloom more than once in a year; mid-spring and early summer.

Growing the Bush
A butterfly bush can be propagated through five different methods: semi-hardwood cuttings, woody stem cuttings, grafting, simple layering, and seeds. One can even pick them from vendors, who will definitely have them round the year. Seed propagation is done by allowing the seed heads to be dried on the plants, and then it is removed and collected. The seeds should be kept in an air-tight container in a dry, dark place.

Seeds should be sown in a fertile, well-drained, loamy soil. Choose a spot that has partial shade, the bush can tolerate heat and drought, only after its well-established. For sowing seeds, layer the soil absolutely flat. Sprinkle seeds evenly and cover with a thin layer of soil. Sprinkle water, and cover with a shade material. The seeds will germinate within a week, and when they reach a six-leaf stage, transplant them. Choose a healthy seedling, and plant it at least 15-20 inches deep in the soil. Water regularly, and start mulching, when the butterfly bush has established itself.

Training the Bush
The fountain butterfly bush is different from its other cousins, as they have long slender stems and branches. Most gardeners use this to their advantage, and train them into beautiful climbers or small trees. Preferably start with a young plant, select the most sturdy or the tallest stem, and prune away all other branches growing from the ground as close to the roots. Insert a strong, treated wooden or metal support next to the bush, and use strings to tie and hold the long stem to the support. Allow the bush to grow through the whole year, and at least gain 6 to 7 feet in height. One may have to add extra support in a circular shape, to hold the plant's weight well at the top.

Fountain butterfly has been officially classified as a class "B" noxious weed, by the Oregon's Department of Agriculture in 2004. The butterfly bush is a very aggressive shrub, and is known to take overtake vegetation around it. It is listed as one of the top 20 weeds in England. However, when trained to grow in a garden, it will not intrude on other plants, and either ways, for a gardener this beautiful cluster of purple flowers can never be an intrusion!