What can I do with a buddleia shoot?

Its worth a try Jan. If you can get it up with some roots you have a good chance. I would nip out the leader too...give it a chance to bush out..Where abouts are you in the North East?..>I'm in Northumberland

I'd give it a go too.
Try and chop it as close to the parent plant as possible and keep as many feeder roots as possible too. Make sure it's very well watered when you replant. :o)

Got to be worth a go.

it is on your land so i dont see why not. follow the advice of plenty of water. take as much soil with it as you can, to reduce root diturbance.

Thanks everyone for your replies, I'm definitely going to give it a go. Amblealice, what do you mean by nip out the leader? Just nip out the tip of the shoot? (btw, I'm in Cleveland and jealous of you in Northumberland, gorgeous place!)

I used buddleiah prunings in the polytunnel as bean and pea sticks. By the autumn I found I had several dozen wonderfully rooted plants which I dug up in the autumn and planted all round the garden.
So it seems they should root easily doing what you suggest!

If you find, when you dig it up, it's got its own root system and is separate from next door's plant, it's probably a self set seedling - these usually come up the basic lilac colour flower.

Yes Jan....just nip out the top. Glad you like Northumberland....you are not too far away!

If it is a seedling on its own roots, like Bamboo said, it will not be the choice variety of the parent. It would be easier to take cuttings, which will root in the greenhouse or frame quite quickly at this time of the year.

Hi everyone - thanks for your help. I haven't had the courage to do it yet! I was having a look this morning and debating whether I dare give it a go. It already has a bud. I don't really mind if it ends up just the lilac colour although the parent plant is pink. As it's so tall, would I need to stake it, and how would be best to do this? One reason I haven't taken the plunge yet is that I'm not sure where I could put it. Would it be okay in a pot?

Well, I wouldn't personally, put one in a pot, they are so vigorous, although you may get away with it in a large pot. If it didn't work, then you can transplant it.

But, you wouldn't need to stake it either. They are tall, but they are also strong and I've never had to stake one.