The buddleia or butterfly lilac (Buddleja) is a diverse shrub or subshrub that blooms profusely during the summer months, smells intensely and provides valuable food for numerous insects such as butterflies, bumblebees and wild bees. However, the plant has a strong tendency to self-sow, which is why cutting off the flowers makes sense.
When and how should you cut off spent buddleia flowers?
Withered flowers of the buddleia (Buddleja) should be cut off regularly to prevent uncontrolled seed formation and self-sowing. Use sharp secateurs to cut off the withered flowers during the flowering period from June / July to October.
Prevent seed formation
There are numerous Buddleja varieties that grow to different sizes and widths and also develop different flower colors from white and cream to different shades of pink to dark purple and even violet-blue. All varieties bloom very profusely - and produce seeds just as profusely, which in turn produce countless offspring. So that you don't have to constantly pull them out - which are not pure varieties and usually resemble the wild form from Asia - you should always cut off the spent flowers during the flowering period between June / July and October (depending on the variety). To do this, use sharp and clean secateurs (€14.00 on Amazon).
Tip
You can use the stems for varietal cuttings propagation, although in this case you have to separate the flower from the shoot.
