Spherical Buddleya

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Spherical buddleya (lat. Buddleja globosa) - flowering shrub; a representative of the Buddleya genus of the Norichnikov family. It occurs naturally in dry and humid forests in western Argentina and Chile. Previously, the species was very popular in European countries, it was used as an ornamental crop for open ground. Nowadays, interest in the globular bud has subsided, it was replaced by David's buddley, which has a huge number of varieties that differ in a variety of colors. The shrub (the species in question) dotted with orange and bright yellow spherical inflorescences is practically forgotten and is rarely used in landscape design. The species was discovered in 1782 by the famous Scottish botanist and physician John Hope.

Characteristics of culture

Spherical buddleya is a semi-evergreen or evergreen shrub with a spreading crown, reaching a height of 5-6 m. Young shoots are pubescent, ribbed. Leaves are elliptical or lanceolate, sessile, up to 15 cm long, smooth or tuberous on the outside, pubescent on the back. The flowers are small, bright yellow or orange, collected in globular inflorescences that form at the ends of the shoots. The inflorescences emit a pleasant, sweet, honey aroma that spreads around the area, attracting the attention of bees, butterflies and other insects.

Many gardeners compare buddlea spherical inflorescences with giant mimosa, and, of course, there are similarities. Spherical buddleya blooms in May - June. The fruits ripen in September. Currently, several varieties of spherical buddley (mainly English selection) are presented on the garden market, the most common are: Los Lagos (Los Lagos), Lemon Ball (Lemon Ball), Cally Orange (Callie Orange), Cannington Gold (Kennington Gold) and HCM98017.

The Cally Orange variety can boast of particular attractiveness, which differs from others in its very large bright orange inflorescences. Thanks to the buddley ball and buddlea of David, a hybrid was obtained, referred to as the buddleja * weyeriana. Moreover, the hybrid of the first generation was unremarkable, but with subsequent crossing, very unusual varieties of Golden Glow (Golden Glow), Moonlight (Moonlight) and Sungold (Sun Gold) were obtained. The latter was bred relatively recently.

The subtleties of growing

The spherical buddleya, like other representatives of the genus, does not tolerate shaded areas, it needs intense lighting or, in extreme cases, a light shadow with diffused light. In a dense shade, plants practically do not bloom and are often affected by various diseases and pests. Also, such an arrangement can lead to death. Culture negatively refers to cold winds and drafts. Buddleya spherical and demanding to soil conditions. Plants thrive and flower more abundantly in nutritious, moist and loose soils. Loamy or sandy loamy soils with neutral or alkaline pH are optimal. Acidic, highly acidic, swampy, heavy and clayey soils are not suitable, as well as lowlands with stagnant cold air and water.

The buddleya globular is drought-resistant, but during dry periods it needs abundant watering. It also applies well to periodic evening spraying. To ensure abundant flowering, shrubs are fed with mineral and organic fertilizers. By the way, they not only activate growth, but also affect the saturation of the color of flowers, and provide optimal wintering. When growing buddleya in central Russia, shelter is required for the winter. With the onset of frost, many species of the genus are cut almost to ground level, then covered with a wooden box, the voids of which are filled with fallen leaves. The box itself is packed with polyethylene, which serves as additional protection. In the southern regions, such pruning is not needed, but the foot of the shrubs is covered with peat or the same fallen leaves.

If the plants are not provided with normal wintering, frost can damage the entire aerial part (up to the root collar). Despite the fact that buddlea shoots quickly recover, freezing along the root collar retards the development of plants and affects the abundance of flowering. Young shoots of buddleia globular are resistant to short-term temperature drop down to -8C. The culture is resistant to diseases and pests. Among the dangerous pests, the spider mite should be noted, among the diseases - gray rot. When the first signs of damage are found, it is important to start treatment immediately; biological or chemical insecticides can be used to combat.