Buddleia 'Podaras #8'
Buddleia 'Podaras #8' Blue Heaven in September 2011 on 60% evapotranspiration with this individual reaching 60” high; 2x the expected height Photo: SK Reid.
Summary
UC Davis is located in Davis, California, this site has a silty clay loam soil and plants are irrigated with potable water. More information about the field sites is located in the Nuts & Bolts section.
Buddleia ‘Blue Heaven’ was a real favorite in the 2009-2011 trials. Except for the middle of the winter, as is typical of this genus, this plant was consistently handsome in the trials field. The plants were cut back late in the winter. Though the winter of 2010 was wet, we had an unusually dry March and April in 2011, which accounts for the low spring ratings. This was the first year since 2005 we had had to apply irrigation in April or May. Blue Heaven was bothered very little by pests or diseases, and bloomed for five months beginning in June. In fact, there were still blooms into November, though we had finished taking ratings by then.
Though most plants topped out between 3 and 4 feet high, the relative amount of growth put on at the 60% rate was highest through the summer. Some of these plants reached 5 feet high by the second year. Consistently higher ratings in most categories lead us to recommend this plant be irrigated at 60% ETo, or the high end of the moderate range, once established. However, it should be noted that by the middle of the summer, the plant was performing in most categories at a 4 or better on all irrigation levels, making it a very adaptable plant. Although we would not recommend the low level, the chances of the plant surviving such drought conditions are fairly good, as the mortality for this plant occurred during the winter months. One specimen was also left in the field to fend for itself while the field lay fallow for a year. The plant appeared unscathed and bloomed quite beautifully until the field was re-planted in November 2012.
Basic Info
| Submitted by: | Ball Ornamentals |
| Site(s): | UC Davis |
| Trial Exposure: | Sun |
| Year evaluated: | 2011 |
| Height & Width after 2 years: | 3.75' x 4.7' |
| Reported Height & Width at maturity: | 2-3' x 2-3' |
| WUCOLS plant type: | S |
| Water Needs & WUCOLS Region: | Medium - Region 2 |
Mean Overall Appearance rating: (1-5 Scale, 5 is highest) | 4.0 |
| Flowering Months: | June-November |
Growth and Quality Data
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Blue Heaven butterfly bush at the end of the establishment season in November 2010. Photo: SK Reid.