Dwarf Buddleia

[Tomato Head]

Hi

As I'm new to this gardening lark I'm after some advice.

I'm trying to find a dwarf buddleia to grow in a pot (i think the one I'm after is called blue chip) but I have failed to see any in garden centres, although they have lots of the larger buddleia varieties. Is this something I'm likely to find at a garden centre or will I have to buy online? I'm reluctant to buy online as I'd prefer to see what I'm buying so that I know that it's at least healthy at point of purchase, plus I won't be in when it is delivered so it could be a bit of a performance having to collect it from somewhere. Is it too specialised/not enough demand for your average garden centre to stock it?

[Maccabee]

I bought 3 of the same last month. I struggled to find them online nevermind in a garden centre. But you could always try and there are other dwarf varieties i believe. Would it be possible to get the plants delivered to a friend or relative?

[Tomato Head]

I bought 3 of the same last month. I struggled to find them online nevermind in a garden centre. But you could always try and there are other dwarf varieties i believe. Would it be possible to get the plants delivered to a friend or relative?

I could possibly get it delivered to a friend but it would depend on whether a signature was required as most of my friends are out at work during the day like myself. I don't have anywhere it could be left without a signature but I do have friends with porches where something could be left.

I have found them online here but I don't know how reputable the site is. Ironically they are just down the road from me so it seems a bit crazy for them to put something in the post. I wonder if I could collect from them, or whether they would be prepared to deliver to one of their garden centres for me.

Dwarf Buddleia Blue Chip - J Parker Dutch Bulbs

[Urban]

Seems they have been around since 1933, they must be doing something right, best bet would be to ring them or send them an email, click on there contact us page

[Two_Sheds]

J.Parker are very well known. I expect most of the Grapes on here have at least heard of them, if not had something from them

[Two_Sheds]

I won't be in when it is delivered

Could you have it delivered to work?

Most sensible companies now have an agreement with the customer for where to leave parcels if they're out: except Royal Mail *rolls eyes
I always have *leave in greenhouse if out* as the 2nd line of my address for any delivered orders.

I wouldn't have expected a signature to be required for a plant, but you never know. If you're not in, you can rearrange delivery

[Tomato Head]

Looks like I'll be ordering from there then. Having it delivered to work may be the best option, although I'm a bit wary of that as the post room is a bit like a black hole and things have a habit of entering there never to be seen again.

How are plants usually packed when sent in the post? What I'm worried about is that my local delivery office is only open mornings so if it arrived on a monday, I wouldn't be able to collect until the following saturday which I assume would be far too long for the poor thing to be without any TLC. I will probably have to take the plunge though as the desire for a dwarf buddleia has turned into a bit of an obsession and I simply must have one

[Maccabee]

Totally understand your obsession. The same week i discovered dwarf varieties existed i bought 3! It may grow like a weed, but i love Buddleja.

If it's a half-decent supplier the plants should be well packaged, sometimes the box will even have an "urgent/fragile: contains live plants" sticker. Mine came in pots (which i assumed would mean they could go longer without drying out), but they were very pot bound so arrived bone dry, so i'd try not to leave them too long. The suppler would usually say whether they were potted or bare-root, but i can't see on their site?

[Tomato Head]

What size pot will I need for them? I was planning using a 40cm pot for one - will that be big enough? Or too big?

[Maccabee]

Couldn't say. I've got mine in small clay pots on the patio table for now. Probably too small, but if they outgrow them i'll move them on.

[Two_Sheds]

the desire for a dwarf buddleia has turned into a bit of an obsession and I simply must have one

Have you seen this one?

[tamsin]

Brought two of the 'Buzz' dwarf buddleja last year for our balcony - I guess they are about 40cm pots. They've survived the winter fine and are growing away. They were available at the local garden centre in a couple of colours.

[WendyC]

Thompson and Morgan supply "Buzz Buddleja.

[Tomato Head]

Have you seen this one?

What a fabulous excuse to buy 3

[Tomato Head]

Just to update - I have been putting off ordering one of these online but I hadn't stopped wanting one. Then at the weekend I was at the local garden centre and there they were - some blue chip dwarf buddleias! Needless to say I bought one so I'm now happy that I've finally got my budd!