Woody Bowles Mauve- young plant

Dirty Harry

I only planted this in September 2017 and it's already turned into a woody mess over the late autumn/winter-



Here it is not long after planting in September 2017-



June 2018-



I know these are renowned for the whole 'burning twice as brightly for half as long' sort of thing but surely that's a bit quick still? I have 2 healthy plants taken as cuttings from it so replacement isn't an issue but I'd like to think I can get more than effectively one good season out of these.

Anything I might be doing wrong?

Lyn

I take cuttings every year from these, I treat them near enough as annuals, maybe get two years out of them.   Lovely when they’re new, horrible when they’re old. 

Purplerain

I agree, they are still flowering woodily in my garden but I will hoik them out in Spring. I like the grey leaves as a contrast in Winter. They flower in their purple fashion.. . endlessly and meagerly. Cuttings, or new plants are my choice. Morrisons are selling new plants for £1.20 now if you like them.

madpenguin

I think the heat of last summer did not help.

Lizzie27

You can prune them back in the spring, cut off all the long flowered stems, back to a ball shape over the crown. 

Dirty Harry

Bit late now, it didn't even make it to Spring!

Lizzie27

Did I miss something?

Dirty Harry

?

Surely it's past the point of bothering with? It's a woody mess.

Lyn

I agree with you Harry, I don’t think they’re worth bothering with, you can take cuttings and keep them indoors unless it’s gone, gone😀
Is that a rogue Buddlia seedling taken over by the lupin.? 

Dirty Harry

I already have 2 new plants from cuttings.

That's a dwarf buddleia next to the lupin.

Lyn

That’s good then, keep then picked out to make bushy plants.