Buddleia or Butterfly Bush - An Easy to Grow Shrub for the Garden.

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The buddleia or butterfly bush is an easy to grow shrub for the garden. It can grow up to 10 feet in height, and in the summer it becomes a hotspot for butterflies which are attracted by the sweet smelling nectar of the purple blooms. These bushes can easily be propagated from softwood cuttings. In July cut 6 to 9 inch long stems at a point 1/4 inch below a leaf joint. Fill a 5 inch pot almost to the brim with a 50/50 mixture of sand and potting compost. Hormone rooting powder isn't required as these plants aren't fussy and root easily. Push as many cuttings as possible down into the compost, water and cover the pot with a clear plastic bag, held on with an elastic band around the rim. This prevents the cuttings drying out since they have no roots. Make a small hole in the top of the bag to allow some ventilation. Position the pot out of direct sunlight in a north facing position. The cuttings root in a few weeks and once the roots can be seen emerging from the bottom of the pot, they can be transferred to individual pots before planting out to a final flowering position. Image © EugenesDIYDen