I've had a buddleia alternifolia in zone 5 at the top of a fairly windy hill for about 10 years and it survives very well. Each year there is some deadwood from the wind, I think. I haven't done any other pruning because the place I bought it from (Phoenix Flower Farm, wonderful place) let theirs grow. Mine was magnificent this year, but needs to be pruned back a bit and I haven't gotten around to it yet. Not quite sure what to do!

Terrene, The flowers are fragrant according to my readings. The flowers may not be as showy but the panicles are quite long and go over a foot long. All my planted Davidiis died this winter. First time that has ever happened. The heaving is what got them. We had it bad here. Yet the Davidiis which I neglected and threw up against the shed still in their winter sown containers made it through!!! Lesson - Plant early to establish root systems!!!!

I would be interested in a trade. Please email me and we can see what we can come up with. penmac@sympatico.ca Thanks Penny

Here in Chicago, a buddleia I planted a few years ago did not survive that first winter. That was my first attempt after moving into a house with plenty of garden space. I tried again the next year, and it did reasonably well. Last year it came back as a VERY vigorous 7 foot plant that attracted hundreds of butterflies over the course of the season. It reappeared recently, and looks likely to be even more vigorous this year. With buddleia and other species that are of marginal hardiness in this zone, I aimed for maximum insulation over the winter. Whenever we had snow, I piled it as deep as possible over those particular plants whenever I shoveled. Last winter's snow and temperatures made that even more effective, as some spots retained snow cover for almost the entire winter. Using that technique, I was able to get vigorous regrowth even with a species at least as marginal in this zone - gaura lindheimeri (http://www.floridata.com/ref/g/gaur_lin.cfm). In winters where temperatures aren't cold enough to retain snow, heavy mulch might do the trick. Even with that technique, I don't know that expectations of any more than "short lived perennials" is realistic. I'll try to keep my buddleia going as long as possible. If it lives to 5 years, I'll be surprised and pleased.