Which buddleia?

[TisTheDarnSeason]

I've got a spot in the front garden that I think would really suit a big ol' buddleia. It's in full sun, well drained and there's plenty of space. At the moment it's a slightly scrubby bit of grass and wildflowers, with an ugly bare wall behind which I'd like to distract from.

I'd like something big and, preferably, rather showy! It needs to be visible over a hedge. I'm oddly tempted by one of those slightly vulgar? bicolour 'Flower Power' varieties- has anyone got one and are the colours as vibrant as promised? Or would you go for something a bit more traditional?

Rest of the front garden is mainly trad/cottage style with roses, hydrangeas, clematis, lavender, herbs and some wildflowers.

Buddleia globosa. It has orange ball flowers.

I bought one of those bicolour ones - when it flowered it was just purple when it should have been pink and white. Fell for online marketing

I would go for “sungold”, a beautiful yellow one. Sadly mine perished in a storm and I need to get another - I love buddleia and it’s my favourite one I ever had

I'd probably go for one of the very dark purple ones like this one, which looks rather magnificent. 😍
https://www.jparkers.co.uk/buddleia-black-knight-0001885c

Definitely Black Knight - it smells gorgeous, like damson jam!

We have a huge white one (no idea of variety), a miniature version in a pot & a Black Knight - love the colour of it - a very rich dark purple.

This is my Black Knight but it looks darker in person.

Don’t get it from Parker's, they have gone very badly downhill recently, I’ve had terrible trouble with two big wholesale orders this year and last. None of the four ‘Flower Power ‘ in our order were in a state to survive the winter.

’Black Knight ‘ is very striking! Globosa is a bit tender, so only suitable for a sheltered spot. The white ones hang onto their flowers once dying and so look fairly grim until dead headed ( no joke when they are more than six foot tall).

@APurpleSquirrel that is, indeed, a stunner! 😍

I like Pink Delight. Not a fan of Black Knight as others have suggested but each to her own.

I have one that is red and purple. It's stunning and nothing seems to kill it.

Yes, @Allthegoodnamesarechosen our white one gets hacked down to about 2ft stump each year & is usually a good 7ft by midsummer! Very tricky to deadhead but worth it, as it puts out more flowers (though they're usually smaller) but still extends the flowering season for the pollinators.
We also got mullin moth caterpillars on it last year - they didn't do it any harm & were very interesting.