Buddleya David is an exotic fascinating plant. There are more than 100 species of shrubs, many of which can be grown as ornamental plants.
Initially cultivated in tropical and subtropical conditions, but there are species that can withstand low winter temperatures.
Buddley David is also called Budley the changeable - he is a representative of the family of Buddley and belongs to the Noriches family.
Deciduous shrub reaches a height of three meters. The species was named in honor of the French naturalist and missionary Armand David, who discovered this species. 
The leaves are lanceolate-oval, tapering at the edges, their length can be up to 25 cm. The flowers of David's buddley are small, the inflorescences resemble an ear. Different varieties differ in shades of flowers, purple blossoms are more common.
Buddley David: features of the shrub
The shrub has an unusual crown and flowering that attracts gardeners. Buddleya David, whose cultivation is practiced as a tapeworm or hedge, looks like a green fountain, due to his unusual crown and stems resembling an arch.
Among gardeners - lovers of shrubs are also popular: jasmine, blister, juniper, mountain ash.
The protruding peduncles have a finish that resembles a long brush, consist of purple small flowers, with orange flaming eyes. 
Buddley David has many features:
- When planted in areas with a harsh climate, the shrub may freeze, but is quickly restored, giving new shoots at the beginning of the summer period.
- It belongs to fast-growing plants, for several months it is able to form a high crown up to 70 centimeters and drives out chic long peduncles. Already from July and right up to October, the maximum ornamental effect of the shrub comes. This is a period of prolonged and rapid flowering.
- Spreading crown consists of dark green lanceolate leaves and is completely covered with lilac flowering, the so-called haze. Flowers emit a strong honey aroma.
- Buddley David still bears the name: "Autumn Lilac", because of that. that flowering can last until late autumn or “butterfly bush”, due to the fact that the sweet aroma of flowering gathers around itself various butterflies.
- The standard color of the buds is violet-lilac, but thanks to the breeders new varieties have appeared with other equally beautiful flowers. For example:
RoyalRed has a purple-red color; 
Orchid Beauty - pale lilac; 
Fascinating has hot pink brushes. 
Did you know? The stem cells of this shrub are used for cosmetic purposes and are used as an antiseptic.
Growing conditions
For Buddley David, before planting in open ground, you need to choose the most suitable place and type of soil. Growing conditions and quality of flowering shrubs depends on growing conditions.
Where better to plant a bush
Buddley is a light-loving plant, therefore it is better to plant it on the territory without shading. He likes space, as the branches are spreading and must have around him enough space for full development. Due to the fact that the branches of Buddley are rather fragile, the landing place must be light-winding so that strong wind gusts do not break them.
Type of soil for planting
The soil should be loose. Heavy soil with wet areas for this plant is not suitable. The soil after planting a bush should be immediately mulched with peat or straw. It is important to create good drainage so that there is no stagnant moisture.
Thus, care should be taken not to harm the root system, especially in the first years after planting, when the plant is gaining strength and rooting.
Breeding at home
Buddleya David attracts many gardeners with its originality and long flowering.
Did you know? In his homeland, Buddley sprouts to 50 years, but in other latitudes it falls out after about the fifth winter. Therefore, in order not to lose this shrub, you should take care of growing new young plants.It is not difficult to plant even for beginners lovers of garden ornamental plants. The most popular methods are: reproduction by cuttings and growing from seeds.
Reproduction by cuttings
A suitable period for cutting is considered to be the middle of summer or the beginning of autumn. Each cut stalk should have 3-4 buds. Cuttings should choose green or not completely lignified, which should have two internodes. This is followed by the obligatory treatment with heteroauxin.
The processed cuttings are planted in a pot filled with river sand and covered with a glass jar. If the pot with the handle will be in a warm room, then you do not need to cover the glass. 
During the day you need to spray and periodically moisten the sand. If grafting is early, and the weather conditions are good, then the young bush is able to bloom in the same year.
Planting cuttings can be made immediately in the garden or garden. A small hole is dug in the ground, a stalk with buds is planted, and the hole is covered with soil. As well as adult plants, a seedling needs shelter for the winter. When the warm spring days come, the cutting will grow. Caring for seedlings is the same as for an adult bush.
Growing from seed
Buddleya at the end of flowering gives a large number of seeds from which you can grow new bushes. Sowing is done in January in a pot with a moistened substrate, a depth of 8 centimeters. Watering is initially made only from a pallet, and later careful foliar irrigation is carried out on the cutting.
Also, seeds propagate such shrubs as eosklet and grapes.Unzipping into the box is made when 4-5 leaves appear. Before planting in open soil, treatment is carried out with a solution of potassium permanganate and weak solutions of micronutrients, such dressings should be 2 each.
For sowing and picking, a mixture of sod peat and soil should be used in a 1: 3 ratio. Planting seedlings produced in June, the distance between half a meter bushes. In the first year, the plants may not give flowering. For the year they grow up to 70 cm, for the winter they should be cut to 30 cm, to pile up and insulate. 
Warming off in the middle of May next year, the bushes need to unravel. In June, planting is carried out in open ground and processing with blue manure in the ratio of 1: 100. Flowering occurs in the second half of June and lasts until October.
Buddley David gardener-growers of the seed from the seed is not so easy, this method is labor-intensive and requires a lot of attention. More suitable and easier, especially for beginners, is the cutting method.
Important! By propagating this shrub with seeds, there is a possibility of changing the properties of the variety that you grow. When cutting these changes do not happen.
Basic rules of care
Budley David in planting and care does not require much effort, but observing the basics of cultivation, you will rejoice in its beauty and aroma of buds, the flowering style is presented in the photo.
Watering plants
The plant loves frequent watering, but not stagnant moisture. Especially in need of moisture in dry periods, the main thing is to avoid swamping the soil. As a representative of warm countries with tropical conditions, Buddley welcomes foliar irrigation.
Spraying is carried out in the early morning or after sunset, in order to prevent burning of leaves and flowering on hot sunny days. 
Top dressing and fertilizer
The first dressings should contain nitrogen, they need to be made during the growing season. Such fertilizer promotes good growth and fast recovery after wintering. The second time experienced gardeners advise feeding closer to the middle of summer.
At this stage, the fertilizer should consist of phosphorus and potassium, which makes it possible to improve the intensity and beauty of flowering. 
Also, you can make a small amount of ash and organic matter, for example: compost or humus. If the shrub is not fertilized - it will not disappear, but will have a weak and painful appearance, and flowering may not occur in season.
Pruning shrubs
Without pruning, the bush will turn into a tangled, stretched mass of new and old shoots, which also has a bad effect on flowering. The most beautiful blooms are observed in bushes with annual strong pruning.
Removal of faded buds causes a second wave of flowering and improves the abundance of self-seeding. Pruning is done: in the spring, when frost is not terrible in the fall. 
Autumn pruning is needed to remove sick and old shoots that can weaken the shrub during the wintering period. Annual increments are removed by a third. Spring pruning weakened branches and shape the shrub.
In the first spring, old shoots are cut and the main branches are shortened. In this way, the basis of skeletal low branches to a height of 15-40 cm is formed. If you wish to grow a shrub of greater height, the skeletal branches are cut to 1.3 meters.
For the following years pruning is carried out at the same level as in the first year with the remaining 3 pairs of buds. Shoots that grow in parts of the lower crown are removed completely with a strong thickening, if not, they are shortened by 3/4. In the formed plant, the old and dead shoots, as well as the unproductive branches of the skeleton are removed with a saw or a delimbing. The buds that have bloomed, are cleaned with shears to a pair of the strongest shoots. Running bushes respond very well to pruning.
Important! If the pruning and high humidity are not observed, gray rot appears on the faded racemes, which can cause strong damage to the bush if it is not dealt with. Timely pruning is the most effective method of combating and preventing this disease.
Buddyley David's Wintering
When performing only a few aspects of preparing for winter, the shrub will tolerate the most cold and frost. Initially, the bush should be pruned, after the end of the flowering period (end of September-October). There remain shoots with a height of no more than ten centimeters. 
Covering is not worth it, in the thaw the shrub will begin to rot. Above the plant after pruning arcs are set up to 25 centimeters high and covered with dense polyethylene. During periods of frost, this structure is covered with dry leaves or hay.
The existing air gap between the film and the ground creates a microclimate that is favorable for the plant. Dry winter air is aerated shrubs and shoots are not obscured. Such conditions in winter are as comfortable as possible for the "autumn lilac".
Diseases and pests
Buddleya David is rarely affected by diseases or pests, this happens only with improper care or lack of it.
The whitefly or spider mite affects the shrub during a strong long drought. Prevention are regular watering, both root and spraying crown. In a state of neglect, the affected areas are cut out and burned, and insecticidal treatment is used. 
A common disease is a black leg injury due to excessive dampness. The fight against it is listed above.
Buddleya David has many advantages and is quite unpretentious in care, and this is attractive for gardeners. With proper care and timely identification of the needs of your pet, you can enjoy her beauty and wonderful aroma until late autumn. Delicate flowers and elegant branches will attract the attention of others to your garden.
