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Buddleia Davida Royal Red is a perennial shrub often used to decorate public gardens and flower beds in city parks. The plant is no less popular in private lands.
The Royal Red variety is especially valued for its extended flowering time, due to which the decorative appearance of the shrub is preserved until the first frost. In addition, Buddleia Davida Royal Red has received favorable reviews from gardeners for its ease of formation.
History of variety selection
Buddleia Davida Royal Red is a fairly old variety originally from the USA. The originator of this variety is A. Lukal, who bred it in 1942. In 1997, the shrub took 9th place in the ranking of 57 varieties of the taxon that existed at that time.
Description of Buddleia Royal Red
Buddleja dav royal red (buddleja dav royal red) is a tall shrub with a spreading crown. The height of the plant is on average 2-2.5 m, the diameter reaches 3 m.
The leaves of Buddleia Davida variety Royal Red have an oval shape, tapering towards the end, which can be seen in the photo.The leaf blade is dark green in color, the leaves are pubescent underneath. The shoots are quite thin, green, drooping from the weight of heavy inflorescences.
The variety blooms profusely, forming long spike-shaped inflorescences - from 25 to 40 cm. The flowers are purple-red, small. A distinctive feature of the Royal Red variety is its rich honey aroma, which attracts a large number of butterflies. Flowering begins in July and continues until the end of September - beginning of October.
Frost resistance, drought resistance
Buddleia Davida variety Royal Red is a light-loving plant and sensitive to dampness, and therefore not suitable for cultivation in the Northern regions of the country. In winter, buddleia shoots may freeze, however, with the onset of spring, the bush recovers if the damage was minor. Without shelter, the Royal Red variety overwinters at temperatures from -15°C to -17°C, which is only possible in the south of Russia. In the middle zone, shrubs must be insulated, paying special attention to the base of the plant.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Buddleia Davila Royal Red practically does not attract insects, except for butterflies, which do not harm the plant. The only exception is aphids, which occasionally infect gardens. In the event of an invasion of this pest, buddleia is sprayed with insecticides.
Of the diseases, the greatest danger to shrubs is gray rot.
Reproduction methods
There are 2 main ways to propagate Royal Red buddleia: growing the bush from seeds and taking cuttings. Most often, when breeding Buddleia Davida, they resort to the cutting method.
The algorithm for preparing cuttings is as follows:
- In mid-summer, buddleia is inspected and 3-4 young branches are cut off.
- These shoots are cleaned - the leaves are removed from the lower part.
- Then the cuttings are dipped into a solution for several hours with the addition of any growth stimulant.
- When the planting material dries out a little, it is dug into pre-loosened soil and watered.
- After this, the cuttings are covered with plastic wrap.
- When the seedlings have formed a full-fledged root system, they can be transplanted to a permanent location.
It is somewhat more difficult to grow Buddleia Davida of the Royal Red variety from seedlings. Sowing of seeds occurs according to the following scheme:
- In March, the seeds are sown in separate containers - special containers for seedlings or plastic cups. The soil must be moist. You can use a pre-moistened peat mixture to plant buddleia seeds.
- Then the containers are covered with glass or plastic film.
- For 2-3 weeks, the seedlings are removed to a dry, warm place for germination.
- When the first shoots appear, the containers are moved to a room with a lower temperature and regularly ventilated. To do this, they are taken outside for a while.
- As the seedlings grow, water them regularly.
- As soon as the buddleia seedlings get stronger and form a developed root system, they can be transplanted into open ground or a spacious container.
Planting and caring for Buddleia Davida Royal Red
In order for Buddleia Davida of the Royal Red variety to be able to fully reveal its decorative qualities, it is necessary to provide it with the best conditions for development. In particular, you should take a responsible approach to choosing a site for planting shrubs:
- Buddleia variety Royal Red is a heat-loving garden crop that blooms intensively only with sufficient light. A lack of light inhibits the growth of shrubs.
- The Royal Red variety is sensitive to drafts. It is recommended to plant buddleia where the plant will be protected from strong winds: near garden buildings, residential buildings and fences, always on the illuminated side.
- Buddleia Royal Red does not have any special requirements for the composition of the soil; however, loose, moderately moist soil with low or neutral acidity is best suited for planting shrubs.
Buddleia David of the Royal Red variety is planted in open ground with the onset of consistently warm weather, when the threat of return frosts has passed. Temperatures below 0°C are detrimental to the plant.
The landing procedure is as follows:
- In a pre-prepared area, dig holes 40 cm deep and 45-50 cm in diameter. The distance between the planting holes should be at least 1.5 m. The fact is that the Royal Red buddleia has a very spreading crown, so when the plantings become thicker, plant shoots will invade the space of a neighboring bush, thereby interfering with its development.
- Drainage is placed at the bottom of the planting hole: broken bricks, gravel, clay shards. The layer thickness must be at least 10 cm.
- A soil mixture from the top fertile layer of soil from the site, compost and any mineral fertilizer is poured over the drainage. Buddleia also responds well to feeding with phosphorus and potassium, which can be diluted with wood ash.
- Planting material is buried so that the first 2 buds go underground.
- The root system of the seedling is sprinkled with earth and the trunk circle is lightly compacted.
- Then the buddleia is moderately watered and mulched.
Aftercare
Buddleia Davida variety Royal Red responds well to regular watering, however, the bush should not be overwatered. Excess moisture in the soil provokes rotting of the roots and the development of gray rot. The recommended water consumption per plant is 1-1.5 buckets. Buddleia is watered once every 2-3 weeks, however, you should pay attention to weather conditions. If the summer is hot and dry, the frequency of watering is increased.
At the beginning of spring, David's buddleia of the Royal Red variety is fed primarily with nitrogen, which helps the plant recover after winter. Shortly before flowering begins, phosphorus and potassium supplements are added to the soil, which are necessary for the buddleia to form flowers. Also, the Royal Red variety responds well to fertilization with organic matter: wood ash, humus, etc.
Pruning of Buddleia Davida variety Royal Red is required. It is especially important to carry out this procedure in the first year after planting. The main branches are cut off in late March by almost ½ of the total length. Such intensive pruning stimulates active shoot formation from the sides of the bush, due to which the buddleia will acquire a lush appearance.
Preparing for winter
Buddleia Davida variety Royal Red is not a frost-resistant species. The plant is sensitive to cold snaps and freezes at temperatures below -17°C. Without shelter, shrubs can only be grown in the south of Russia.
To prevent Buddleia Royal Red from freezing in winter when grown in the middle zone, the bush must be insulated. First, the bush is pruned moderately.A support structure is then installed over it, over which a waterproof fabric is stretched. Dry grass or fallen leaves are placed inside, around the trunk, which will provide the Royal Red variety with a favorable microclimate during the winter months. In addition, such shelter will prevent rotting of the roots.
You can learn more about how to properly prepare buddleia for winter in the video below:
Disease and pest control
Buddleia Davida Royal Red gets sick extremely rarely, but if it does happen, the causative agent of the disease is usually a fungus. Among fungal diseases, the greatest danger to shrubs is gray rot, the development of which provokes stagnation of moisture in the soil. Spraying the bush with any fungicide will help restore the plant to a healthy appearance.
The following pests can be distinguished from insects:
- whitefly;
- spider mite;
- aphid.
Getting rid of them will not be difficult - just spray the bushes affected by pests with insecticides.
The use of buddleia in landscape design
In landscape design, buddleia of the Royal Red variety is used both as part of group compositions and in solitary plantings. The shrub looks especially advantageous when surrounded by low-growing garden crops. Small groups can also be planted in the center of the lawn, placing them as close to each other as possible. Thus, the landscape composition will imitate a plant fountain - this effect is achieved due to the drooping branches of the buddleia.
A hedge made from Buddleia Davida Royal Red will be a spectacular decoration of the site. In regions with cold climates, the shrub can be planted in a container to decorate a terrace or balcony. Also on private property, the Royal Red variety is often used to mask unsightly places - old pipes, poles, etc.
Conclusion
Buddleia Davida Royal Red is a relatively unpretentious shrub that even a novice gardener can grow. The only weakness of the variety is its low resistance to frost, which is why the plant has to be insulated for the winter. Otherwise, the Royal Red variety is easy to care for and unattractive to pests.
