— NOVELTIES II THE BALANCE 
About Buddleias — By Leonard Barron, 
New 
York 
PLANTS FOR GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE WHICH GIVE FLOWERS IN LATE SUMMER AND WINTER 
A MONG the comparatively recent 
introductions from China, as a 
result of Mr. Wilson’s travels, 
there is one plant which has 
achieved instant popularity, so much so 
indeed, that when one speaks of “buddleia” 
to-day, thought turns naturally to the one 
which is shown in color on this month’s 
cover. This is known generally in gar- 
dens under the name of Buddleia varia- 
bilis, but its proper name is Buddleia 
Davidii, a very variable species w r hich has 
given us such splendid varieties as magni- 
fica, Veitchiana, superba, and Wilsonii, etc., 
which differ slightly in length of panicle, 
intensity of coloring, hairiness and form 
of leaf, etc. 
The variety magnifica, is the best and 
the most useful for the hardy flower 
garden of the northeastern states. 
This plant grows from three to 
eight feet high and produces 
long panicles, sometimes well 
over two feet in length, of 
flowers of which the general 
effect and color recall the com- 
mon lilac. The name “summer 
lilac” which has been bestowed 
upon it, is thus quite appropri- 
ate, and more so indeed than the 
name “butterfly bush” which, 
with many people, become^ 
confused with 
the butterfly 
weed of our 
fields. T h i s 
summer lilac 
produces its flowers 
in great profusion 
during August 
and Septem 
ber. The plant 
is not entirely 
hardy; that is 
to say, the tops are 
winter killed. But 
the roots remain and 
throw upshoots 
again the following 
season. Indeed, for 
garden purposes, it 
would be better, in any event 
to cut down the old tops so as 
to induce a succession of lateral 
branches. The lilac flowers are 
very welcome in late summer. 
In the extreme north, it may 
be necessary to give the roots 
a slight protection of 
leaves or litter during 
winter, but in the neigh- ' 
borhood of New York at all 
events, and in the grounds of 
the Country Life Press, it sur- 
vives without any protection 
-whatever. Its one requisite, 
however, is a profusion of water during the 
growing season — all summer that is to say, 
and by preference a rich moist soil at all 
times. 
The safest plan would be to carry a stock 
plant over in the cool house and start a 
young batch the following spring. 
The cultivation is simple, as cuttings 
root easily either from green wood or from 
hardwood. Cuttings rooted in the spring 
from pot grown plants will flower the same 
summer if planted out; seeds sown in the 
spring in the greenhouse or in a little heat 
will produce flowering plants the same 
summer; but seeds cannot be relied upon 
to come true to variety. 
When planted out the buddleia should 
be stopped, by pinching the quick growing 
its 
Buddleia asiatica, with foot long panicles of pure white, sweetly scented flowers 
produced during winter is a welcome novelty for the greenhouse. It is easily grown 
shoots. This will cause the plant to form 
a more compact habit and give a host of 
terminal shoots, and it is on these terminai 
shoots that the panicles of flowers are 
borne. Plants stopped in this manner will 
flower in August and continue till frost. 
It can also be used as a pot plant; in 
which case it should be grown on in pots 
instead of planting out and when potted 
in 8-inch pots, should be allowed to be- 
come pot bound, thus curtailing growth. 
Otherwise a plant of huge size would be 
the result. 
But for greenhouse cultivation the white 
flowered Buddleia asiatica is far superior, 
and has many points of merit. It is 
extremely graceful, delightfully fragrant 
and flowers late in the year — a time when 
highly fragrant flowers are in demand. 
Beginning just after the first frosts, it 
continues all winter. 
The pure white flowers come in 
panicles sometimes fifteen to eigh- 
teen inches in length. This budd- 
leia is purely a greenhouse subject, 
but its cultivation is most simple, 
requiring a very cool 
treatment during all 
the stages of its 
growth. In fact, it 
can be grown out-of- 
doors in pots during 
the summer months. 
It roots readily from 
greenwood cuttings in theearly 
spring and from then onward 
it grows quickly and should 
be stopped several times, to 
give a more bushy 
plant. When grown 
in a good greenhouse 
all summer it should 
have all the light pos- 
sible and plenty of 
air late in the season. 
Buddleia officinalis is another ten- 
der species for the greenhouse, and 
it is most useful for pot culture, 
having a more dwarf, compact habit, 
seldom attaining more than two and 
a half to three feet unless where 
old plants are grown on two seasons. 
The flowers are a pale lilac with 
orange eye, much like those of Da- 
vidii, but are borne in shorter denser 
clusters, and its scent is not exactly 
pleasant, though at the same time 
it is not strong enough to be dis- 
agreeable. 
Cuttings of this species do not 
root with the freedom of the others 
owing to a more pubescent surface 
and therefore should be treated a 
little drier when in the cutting bed. 
A bed of coarse sand makes a good 
rooting medium; once the cuttings 
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