‘Wisteria Lane’ is a most unusual and delightful butterfly bush. As it grows it fills the back of the sunny garden border with colourful flair. Plants of ‘Wisteria Lane’ grow to 2 metres when trimmed and display an uncommon weeping habit that bears long, majestic rich-pale violet flower spikes throughout the spring, summer and autumn. A glorious addition to your garden, and a beacon to passing butterflies, birds and insects.
‘Wisteria Lane’ is ideal planting for background effect in garden beds of mixed shrubs or planted as hedges. Sunny positions are needed for optimum results. Planted on sloping hillsides in garden beds the effect can be stunning. Watering in dry periods particularly during the heat of summer keeps the plants in growth which develops more flower. When growing in larger garden pots the same applies with sun being a given. Watering is more critical as is the case with most larger plants when grown in sunny positions and certainly when in a pot which confines the plant roots to the planter.
‘Wisteria Lane’ is an easy plant to grow attaining up to 3 metres if untrimmed. If planting in a large pot, use a good quality potting mixture. Garden soils should be well prepared with cultivation of the area and adding of garden compost to the mix. Most soil types are suitable; an application of a complete fertiliser to the garden bed in spring after the main pruning promotes vigorous growth. In winter temperatures to 5°C are tolerated but heavy frosts will cut them back. During the year trim back the older growth when flowers are showing signs of slowing and getting smaller. The use of a slow release fertiliser is recommended for pot grown specimens.
The parents of Buddleja ‘Wisteria Lane’ are from the open forests of China where, over the centuries Buddleja davidii have hybridised readily in nature. This makes the species diverse with various colour forms and various sized bushes being found growing in the natural settings. Plant collectors selected from this wide and diverse group when collecting. Buddleja ‘Wisteria Lane’ is a real breeding break through. The breeders at Thompson & Morgan in the United Kingdom selected Buddleja ‘Wisteria Lane’ for strong medium growth, masses of weeping blooms and good flower colour.