[Janeannlouise]

Hi all,

I’ve been trying to source some Buddleia plants and/or cuttings, and I’ve just discovered Thompson and Morgan, UK, have cultivated a Dwarf Patio Buddleja.

From their website: http://www.thompson-morgan.com
“T&M exclusive breeding
The best plant to attract butterflies to your garden
Dwarf patio buddleja – won’t take over your garden
15cm (6in) flowers the size of usual buddlejas, but plants are half the size
Long-flowering, brightly-coloured blooms attract butterflies
Easy to grow and problem-free
Plants last more than 10 years
Customer favourite

A new twist on a much-loved garden favourite, ‘Buzz’™ is the world’s first patio buddleja! These attractive, compact plants are loved by bees and butterflies, but won’t take over your garden. Buddleja ‘Buzz™ Magenta’ is easy to grow and problem-free with a super long-flowering period. Perfectly proportioned for patio pots and smaller gardens. Height and spread: 120cm (47″).”

I wonder if Buzz will come our way?

Warm wishes.

[Caryl]

This is the link:
http://search.thompson-morgan.com/search?w=Dwarf+Patio+Buddleja

[Jacqui]

Oh wow!

http://media.thompson-morgan.com/medias/sys_tandm/8869950652446.jpg

I mean… OH WOW!!! How gorgeous.

Sadly, I doubt that we’ll see them here. A few years ago one brave plant breeder (Lyndale Nurseries) brought in “Silver Anniversary” at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars, trialling it and getting it accepted (as not being a threat to NZ’s primary industries or biodiversity) and it didn’t turn out to be popular – either by shoppers or pollinators.

Buddleias are not PC. Even though it’s just one of them that is the problem plant the “message” out there is that ALL buddleias are bad. Just try asking at your neighbourhood garden centre and the standard response is “Oh no, buddleias are a pest plant/noxious weed…” etc.

So if anyone did want to import Buzz they would have to do a huge PR campaign to convince people that not all buddleias are bad. They’d have to spend thousands on the government protocols that protect our biodiversity. And I don’t think it would be worth their while. Better to invest their resources in coming up with a new hybrid native that is colourful and is loaded with nectar for the birds, butterflies and bees, and that people are likely to find attractive in their own garden.

Just my humble opinion.

[Author]

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