Buddleja pruning

chris.michael.cooper

Hi all 
I bought this 3 colour dwarf Buddleja last Autumn. In Spring it was healthy, around a foot tall with good growth. I didn't touch it at all and now it over 2 foot high with loads of leaves but no sign of flower buds. I know it says prune these right back in Spring and beginning to think I should have cut it back now. Should I just leave it now to do it's thing or cut some length off the shoots. I bought it originally to put in my breed and release butterfly house for nectar through the Summer but it's still outside at the moment   

chris.michael.cooper

Another photo 

chris.michael.cooper

Butterfly house  

nutcutlet

I haven't seen any Buddleias flowering yet. They flower whether or not you prune them, it just alters the timing

Alan Clark2 in Liverpool

Buddleia davidii doesn't start flowering for me till mid July, so just give it time.

chris.michael.cooper

Okay thanks for the quick response. I was just worried that maybe I should  have pruned it back a bit in the spring and was going to end up with all leaves and no flowers. I only have a tiny garden so chose the dwarf one hoping it would not grow too high and hopefully flower this Summer because I keep a few butterflies in the butterfly house through the Summer and a few of the last brood to hibernate over Winter. 

KT53

I would leave it for now to ensure you get flowers.  Each year cut it back to 6 to 12 inches high (15 to 30cm) to keep it under control.  They can get out of control very quickly, but can always be cut back very hard.

chris.michael.cooper

Thank you 

punkdoc

Maybe worth adding that 3 colour Buddlejas are usually 3 separate plants, each of a single colour.

Fairygirl

Yes - it's not a single plant. One of those may have overwhelmed the others too, but you can follow the usual pruning regime, as described, next year. 
You'll also need to amend the soil each year if it's staying potted permanently. Even buddleias won't be happy long term in the same soil.