Buddleja (sp) plants have been around for many years. They firstly colonized our empty railways tracks and grew in large numbers. They have got themselves into the mortar between bricks and even look over the top of us after setting seed in chimney pots.

Buddleja (sp) first arrived in the UK by many of the plant collectors who hand picked it from the chalk cliff faces of China. Once they arrived on our shores, they were lovingly planted in borders. However, lime based material love the roots of Buddleja  (sp) as they set out to seed all over. So next time you are walking down and you see a purple flowered plant growing out of a wall, you will know it has made its way there from China.

These geniuses of plants are particularly 'succession' in nature as they have the ability to conquer new ground. Buddleja (sp) Davidii particularly serves this purpose as it lays down the ground work for other species to come in and grow. It quite literally turns the derelict to green. There is one favourite, Buddleja (sp) Davidii - Black Knight, which is a vigorous arching shrub that produces dark violet spiked flowers in mid summer to autumn. This plant can be bought in other coloured varieties such as red, white, crimson and pink. This genus is also typically known as Butterfly Bush as they have the advantage of being loved by wildlife, particularly by butterflies and bees. Butterflies can also take a good pruning back if the Buddleja (sp) gets a bit out of hand.