Can anyone offer any advice on 'developing' (ir pruning/shaping) a
Buddleia alternifolia plant?

We have a small one planted a year or two back and in some senses it's
just a mess - perhaps I should say a wide mound - of innumerable thin
arching woody stems from ground level up to its maximum height of 2-3
feet. While there's obviously some variation in stem thinckness,there
doesn't seem to be one leader or even say 6-12 thick stems that I was
perhaps naively expecting and around which one might train and shape
the plant.

It does seem to be quite a pleasing plant in terms of flower display
and one that we'd like to keep despite its present lack of shape or
form. But is there something more that we could/should be doing to
help create a healthy and pleasing specimen?

( I should say that I'm not bothered about pruning or shaping just for
the sake of it. If the plant is happy and will continue to flower
abundantly without attention then I'm happy to leave it well alone -
maybe it just needs a few more years to develop its own shape. But at
the same time I can;t help wondering if there's something more that
should be done to encourage one or more definite leaders to help gain
some height.)

John Dann
John Dann
www.weatherstations.co.uk (major update now online)

NB Reply address needs an obvious edit

'Juhn',

This site explains what you need to do to keep your plant in check.

http://home.hiwaay.net/~oliver/sgbud...ternifolia.htm

Regards,
Emrys Davies.





"John Dann" wrote in message
...
Can anyone offer any advice on 'developing' (ir pruning/shaping) a
Buddleia alternifolia plant?

We have a small one planted a year or two back and in some senses it's
just a mess - perhaps I should say a wide mound - of innumerable thin
arching woody stems from ground level up to its maximum height of 2-3
feet. While there's obviously some variation in stem thinckness,there
doesn't seem to be one leader or even say 6-12 thick stems that I was
perhaps naively expecting and around which one might train and shape
the plant.

It does seem to be quite a pleasing plant in terms of flower display
and one that we'd like to keep despite its present lack of shape or
form. But is there something more that we could/should be doing to
help create a healthy and pleasing specimen?

( I should say that I'm not bothered about pruning or shaping just for
the sake of it. If the plant is happy and will continue to flower
abundantly without attention then I'm happy to leave it well alone -
maybe it just needs a few more years to develop its own shape. But at
the same time I can;t help wondering if there's something more that
should be done to encourage one or more definite leaders to help gain
some height.)

John Dann
John Dann
www.weatherstations.co.uk (major update now online)

NB Reply address needs an obvious edit

"John Dann" wrote in message
...
Can anyone offer any advice on 'developing' (ir pruning/shaping) a
Buddleia alternifolia plant?

------
I know what you mean, someone here described it as having a bad-hair-day
;-)

Try choosing one strong branch and tying it to a vertical stake. Then grow
it as a standard, gradually pruning off the branches below until you have a
trunk. It will still send up shoots from the bottom, but if you cut them off
you will end up with a shrub that doesn't take up half the garden, and can
plant small things underneath it.

It takes a few years to get it looking really good, but is worth the effort,
mine is at it's best just now.

Marina
E. Sx.

"John Dann" wrote in message
...
Can anyone offer any advice on 'developing' (ir pruning/shaping) a
Buddleia alternifolia plant?

We have a small one planted a year or two back and in some senses
it's
just a mess - perhaps I should say a wide mound - of innumerable
thin
arching woody stems from ground level up to its maximum height of
2-3
feet. While there's obviously some variation in stem
thinckness,there
doesn't seem to be one leader or even say 6-12 thick stems that I
was
perhaps naively expecting and around which one might train and shape
the plant.

It sounds as if you have a rather nice young specimen of B.
alternifolia.
Why do you want to spoil its habit?
Cherish it. It will reward you with plenty of flowers.

[snip]

Franz

"John Dann" wrote in message
...
Can anyone offer any advice on 'developing' (ir pruning/shaping) a
Buddleia alternifolia plant?

We have a small one planted a year or two back and in some senses
it's
just a mess - perhaps I should say a wide mound - of innumerable
thin
arching woody stems from ground level up to its maximum height of
2-3
feet. While there's obviously some variation in stem
thinckness,there
doesn't seem to be one leader or even say 6-12 thick stems that I
was
perhaps naively expecting and around which one might train and shape
the plant.

It sounds as if you have a rather nice young specimen of B.
alternifolia.
Why do you want to spoil its habit?
Cherish it. It will reward you with plenty of flowers.

[snip]

Franz