Boudleigh of David - "autumn lilac"

In the genus Buddleia, there are more than a hundred species of beautifully flowering half-evergreen and deciduous plants. The homeland of these bushes is considered to be subtropical and tropical latitudes, that is, South Africa, Asia and America. Absolutely all kinds of plants are thermophilic, so only the buddha of David was able to adapt to the climatic conditions of the middle belt. Despite frost resistance, the bush requires special care and good shelter for the winter. This species comes from China, where it grows near the mountains and along the river banks.

The Buddha of David is also called the "autumn lilac", because its flowers are very similar to the inflorescences of the spring bush known to all of us. At the age of three, the plant blooms for the first time - it takes place in August or September, and lasts for a month and a half. Spicate inflorescences come in a variety of shades: white, blue, blue, pink, purple, violet, yellow. Honey aroma of flowers is carried around, attracting a variety of insects, which is why near the buddlei you can always see bees and butterflies.

Since the plant is exotic, it requires special care. David's Budlei prefers sheltered from the wind sunny places with fertile soil. It is best to choose a sandy soil, in which you must first add lime. If the soil is heavy, you should make as much peat, sand and humus as possible, and also often loosen the soil. In the middle band the buddleus grows in the form of a half-shrub, the stems of which grow to 2 m in height. For the winter, the terrestrial part completely dies, and in the spring again wakes up and quickly grows to let out fragrant racemose inflorescences in the fall.

Special attention and care require from gardeners these flowers. The Buddha of David is known for active growth, which begins in early spring. During the whole season it is necessary to feed the bush several times with mineral fertilizers. The plant does not tolerate drought, therefore at high temperatures it should be watered twice a day. After the flowering, the shoots are cut to the root, and with the arrival of the first frosts, the bush is mulched with lapnik, dry leaves or peat, which will protect against frost. In the spring, when warming comes, the shelter is removed, so that the kidneys do not get out.

It is very easy to multiply the buddha of David. Cultivation from seeds does not present special difficulties, although they are very small, but they grow quickly and without prior preparation. Seed material ripens in October, sowed in a box with soil, a greenhouse or a greenhouse it needs in the spring. The seeds are small, so it is best to sprinkle them with turf or humus. The boxes are covered with a film, aired and sprinkled with water 3 times a week. Seedlings appear after a fortnight, at most, in a month.

In addition, David's budlea reproduces by cuttings. For this it is necessary to cut off the green or stubby stems after the flowering, cut them into cuttings and plant them in fertile soil, by cutting two kidneys into the ground. For winter they are covered, as well as a large bush. Young plants in the spring are actively growing and may even have time to blossom.