Description
Buddleja macrostachya | Long-spike Butterfly Bush (type 2 form- upright flowers that bloom Autumn – late winter)
Long-spike Butterfly Bush, also known as Long-spiked Butterfly Bush, is a somewhat exotic alternative to the more common Buddleja davidii species, possessing a similar flower appearance, but on a larger and more sturdy frame and that blooms in either autumn or late winter. It’s native to East Himalayas to South Central China and North Indo-China, where it grows as a large woody shrub to a small tree (20 ft) in forest clearings, usually found at altitudes greater than 3,000 ft. Buddleja macrostachya has evolved at altitude, so is suited for temperate mountainous habitats.
This species is highly variable in structure, flower color, hardiness, and bloom period. Our ‘type 2’ form was wild-sourced from China which produces upright plants with huge, deep-green, leathery leaves, squarish, winged branches, and large, pink, violet-mauve, or deep purple upright flowers with bright eyes that bloom in late-summer or autumn, or sometimes in late-winter or early-spring (this particular plant for sale has lavender colored flowers).
Full sun is best, but plants may prefer a little shade in the hottest part of the season. Humus-rich, moisture retentive soil in summer and well-drained soil in the winter is ideal. Sheltering plants from the harshest winds and avoiding planting in frost pockets should ensure the plants make it through winters. Adding a good layer of winter mulch on top of the roots helps protect the soil from freezing solid. Fully root hardy to zone 8 (10 degrees F) while some years it’s not. If plants die to the ground they will shoot up to 8-9 ft by the next year.
Rare in cultivation.
Type: Perennial
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Mature height: 8-12 ft
Mature width: 4-6 ft
Hardiness zones: 8-11
UNROOTED CUTTINGS:
- Price is for five cuttings (5)
- Each cutting is 4-9 inches long. May be single top or multi-top.
- Guaranteed to be green, healthy, and alive. Plus pest and pathogen free.
- Guaranteed to be true-to-name.
- Please only order unrooted cuttings if you are familiar and comfortable with rooting plants
- If it’s believed the plants are not alive and healthy when you receive them you must let us know any concerns you have within 24 hours of arrival. If we do not hear any concerns within 24 hours it will be assumed that everything arrived in good standing. We cannot be held responsible for mishaps, errors, mistakes, or bad luck after this time frame.
ROOTING INSTRUCTIONS:
How to prepare cuttings to root via rooting cubes inside a humidity dome.
- Upon arrival, give cuttings a new fresh cut on the bottom of the stem. Then set in a cup of water for a minimum of 15 minutes.
- After soaking, gently cut or scrape small marks into the bottom portion of the plant stem (½ inch) with scissors or a razor blade.
- Dip the scarred end of the stem into rooting gel or rooting powder (gel is superior). This can be done without rooting gel, but results are not as good.
- Insert the plant stem into a rooting cube (Oasis cubes, grow plugs, soil-cubes, rock-wool cubes, etc) and place into a nursery tray with a humidity dome over the top. One cutting per cube. Custom individual humidity domes can be made using plastic cups and/or plastic cling wrap.
- After the first 3-5 days, the humidity dome should be opened up or set ajar to slowly allow more air in as the plants start to root. At this point, the cubes should be allowed to become mostly dry before adding any more water.
- Once 2-3 roots grow out of the bottom of the root-cube, the plant can be transplanted into soil.
- More detailed rooting instructions will accompany your order.
Please note: We ship plants orders out on Mondays and Tuesdays only.
