Buddleja x pikei – Buddleia –

Description

Buddleja – Buddleia – There are about 100 species of fast growing, evergreen, semi evergreen and deciduous shrubs, sometimes short lived trees and climbers and a few herbaceous perennials, in this genus.  Named after seventeenth century English Botanist Adam Buddle.  They occur from river sides, rocky areas, and scrub in Asia, Africa, Madagascar and North and South America.  They are grown for their dense spikes or panicles of small, tubular, usually fragrant flowers in range of colors, from pink, mauve, reddish purple, oranges, and yellows.  They produces large lance shaped to broadly ovate, usually opposite leaves.  All except the climbers are suitable for a mixed or shrub border, or as specimens.  Many are attractive to many insects, especially butterflies. Grow these undemanding, tough plants in fertile, well drained soil in full sun.  Some prefer chalky or limy soils, and are salt tolerant. Prone to capsid bug, caterpillars, weevils, mullein moth, spider mites, fungal leaf spots, and dieback. B. x pikei – This deciduous shrub is a cross between B. alternifolia and B. crispa and grows 5-8′ feet tall.  It produces ovate to lance shaped, toothed leaves, up to 6″’ long.  In late summer it bears purple-pink flowers with orange throats in panicles to 12″ long. Zones 7-9