Practical guide to propagate butterfly bush

Best time to propagate the Buddleia

The ideal period is in August and September, at the end of flowering, when the shoots begin to harden and become semi-ripe, that is to say when they transform from soft wood to hard wood.

The best time to propagate the butterfly bush is the end of summer

Techniques for Successful Cuttings

There are several techniques for propagating the Butterfly Bush, including semi-woody cuttings taken in late summer or winter cuttings. We recommend the first method, which is very easy to carry out and ensures optimal rooting. The secret: properly prepare your cuttings and the draining mix that will encourage root development.

Semi-woody cuttings step by step

• Step 1: Select healthy, vigorous shoots free of flowers.
• Step 2: Using a pruning shear, take cuttings of 15 cm from the semi-woody wood by cutting at an angle just below a node.
• Step 3: Prepare the cuttings. Remove the lower leaves to leave only two pairs of upper leaves. Cut the large leaves in half. You can dip the ends of the shoots in rooting hormone to stimulate root development.
• Step 4: Fill the bottom of a deep tray or buckets with a filtering mix of clay balls covered with a mix of equal parts river sand and potting soil.
• Step 5: Plant the cuttings by inserting them 7 to 8 cm deep, two-thirds of the way in, and spacing them 10 cm apart in the tray. Firmly press around each cutting with your fingers.
• Step 6: Keep the substrate moist under a bell jar until rooting occurs, which happens quickly in about 2 months. Protect from frost in winter, keeping them in light but out of direct sunlight.
• Step 7: Repot in autumn or the following spring.
• Step 8: Keep them in pots in the sun throughout the summer and only plant them in the ground in September; they are still baby plants and fragile, and they will be more vigorous.

Propagating Buddleia is child’s play!

To find out more

Discover our advice sheet: “Propagation by cuttings, everything you need to know about the different techniques and our tips for successful cuttings”