"First grade loose roots"

Steve_xx

WeAreGhosts wrote: »

Probably about 150 plants in total.
Mostly perennials (delphiniums, echinacea, astrantia, peonies etc), but some for shade (ferns), shrubs (buddleia).

I would be very wary of planting Buddleia, especially B. Davidii, due to it's invasive nature. It will readily seed almost anywhere, even in the mortar between bricks. Thus it's roots swell in the mortar on buildings and cause untold damage to masonry.

Davesnave

Steve_xx wrote: »

I would be very wary of planting Buddleia, especially B. Davidii, due to it's invasive nature. It will readily seed almost anywhere, even in the mortar between bricks. Thus it's roots swell in the mortar on buildings and cause untold damage to masonry.

Although if your masonry is in good condition and you keep other parts of your property properly maintained, this probably won't happen.

You'll likely have a few seedlings though, which should be removed, because they'll be inferior plants.

Steve_xx

Davesnave wrote: »

Although if your masonry is in good condition and you keep other parts of your property properly maintained, this probably won't happen.

You'll likely have a few seedlings though, which should be removed, because they'll be inferior plants.

I've seen them easily take root in gutters, on chimney stacks and in the mortar courses of brick walls. They seem to be able to take root almost anywhere and of course if they do take route in any brickwork then the integrity of that brickwork will be compromised as the roots swell.

peter_the_piper

A quick squirt with roundup solves the problem quite quickly.:rotfl:

Davesnave

The fact that buddleia are seen on old, badly maintained buildings, maybe 4 floors up, indicates how small and wind-driven the seeds are.

So it doesn't matter whether an individual grows them; the seeds will still be around, especially in urban areas. There will be neighbours and pieces of waste land with them nearby.

There isn't anything quite as effective as buddleia for attracting butterflies, which is why I grow them. I don't think they're the only reason, but friends about a mile away had few butterflies last year, when I was counting up to 30 at a time.