"Charm is a sort of bloom on a woman. If you have it, you don't need to have anything else..."
–J. M. Barrie
"Butterflies . . . not quite birds, as they were not quite flowers, mysterious and fascinating as are all indeterminate creatures."
–Elizabeth Goudge
Proper plant selection, more than any other garden feature, lends the look of charm to cottage gardens. It is true, that authenticity can often be enhanced by arbors, stone walkways, and bird baths. But if the plants and their blooms have the requisite look of charm, then the garden is not likely to need much else.
One of the wonderful benefits of the cottage garden arises from its rangy forms of biennials and perennials. The less than manicured look of colorful and scented plants provides a welcoming habitat for the ever-fascinating butterfly. Mysterious and particular, butterflies will literally engulf plants that can supply just the right drink of nectar.
One of the butterfly’s favorite flowers throughout the spring to fall is Buddleia davidii, aptly named the Butterfly bush. This most popular buddleia was named after Pere David, who co-discovered the species while exploring in China during the late 19th century. This time of year, well-groomed Buddleia plants appear as large fountains of arching branches, which are filled with spike-like fragrant flowers. Some gardeners have claimed that the attraction to butterflies is so great, that their plants appear to be flowering with butterflies!
British botanist and cleric, Adam Buddle, wrote an "Herbarium of British Plants" during the early 18th century. An expert on mosses, the good Reverend Buddle had never seen an unnamed plant from Peru. This didn’t prevent his colleague, Linnaeus, to name "buddleia" after him as a reward for his scholarly work. Not widely grown, Buddleia globosa can still be found in older English gardens.
Buddleias are some of the most attractive of late-flowering plants for Laguna, although certain cultivars also bloom in the spring. Fast growers, plants may grow up to 10 feet in a single season. In midsummer, flowers appear in dense, slender clusters, 6 to 12 inches long or more. Many varieties and cultivars can be found at your favorite nursery, differences mainly visible by flower color... ‘Black Knight’ is a true purple; ‘Harlequin’ has variegated foliage and light purple flowers; while ‘Pink Perfection’ is not surprisingly, pink. White, lilac, and blue round out the colors generally available during a season.
All buddleias enjoy long-lasting blooming periods in at least six hours of sunlight. Although tolerant of most soil types, they do require good drainage and enough water in summer to maintain growth... but little else. Like most plants, these shrubs benefit from mulching throughout the year.
To keep your buddleia attractive, cut it back after fall-blooming to about 3 feet. This type of pruning stimulates new growth and flowering. The new shoots that follow will recreate the attractive fountain-form display the following summer.
During the past week of warm, humid weather, it has been difficult to choose between working in our sunny garden, a setting of unarguably delightful charm, or sitting in our shady, cool patio with Catharine, my wife of many charms. The garden needs constant tending, but so does Catharine. And the more I think about it, it isn’t healthy to be working in the heat. See you next time.
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