Date posted: 23 April 2015
There are many named cultivars of the Buddleja species, a genus named after English botanist Adam Buddle (1665-1715). One of the best known is the Buddleja davidii ‘Black Knight’ which is our plant of the week. The Black Knight exhibits dark purple inflorescence on tall strong vertical growth. This particular plant benefits from regular pruning to keep it bushy.
Buddleja davidii has its natural distribution in China and Japan and is named for the Basque missionary and explorer in China Father Armand David who noticed the plant on his travels through the country.
This plant was a selection made in The Netherlands in 1959 and was awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit in 1993. The plants that we have growing in the nursery are in full flower and will be planted out at MLBG over the next few weeks. We are growing a range of different Buddleja species and selections and more will be planted out in the near future.
There are around 100 species of Buddlejas internationally, with a large distribution in Asia, South America and South Africa. Butterflies are attracted to the rich nectar of the flowers which gives rise to the common name of butterfly bush. Birds are also attracted to the flowers. The flowers exhibit a rich sweet perfume which is pleasing to the nose!
18 July 2023
Have you ever driven past the beautiful heritage-listed Goodman Building when passing the Garden on Hackney Road? Did you know this building was formerly the base for the Municipal Tramways Trust but now serves as the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium administration building.
07 June 2023
World Ocean Day is an annual celebration held on 8 June which unites and rallies the world to protect and restore our blue planet. In our latest blog, State Herbarium's Jem Barratt takes a deep dive into how its scientific work focusing on seagrasses and seaweed helps with the restoration and preservation of our ocean ecosystems.
