Each spring, apply a thin layer of compost and mulch to retain moisture and control weeds. We are no longer recommending new plantings of the butterfly bush, given its categorization as an invasive in most of North America. Water in the roots at planting time, and keep well-watered over the following weeks until the shrub becomes established. In your case, wait until early to mid-fall, when temperatures start to cool off, then dig and transplant the bush. Buddleja is grown for its lovely panicles of flowers, often scented, and which are attractive to insects and butterflies. Don’t worry. You gave exact information I needed to plant & care for my new bush. No water? Experts weigh-in on ways to grow and care for the plant, and explain how to avoid the cultivators that are considered invasive. The issue likely stems from one of those—lighting or water. Stems should be pruned back in late winter moving into early spring to encourage large, lush flower spikes. Is it too late in the year to chop it to the ground like you suggest? Always plant in well-drained and fertile soil. Susceptible to capsid bug, caterpillars, weevils, mullein moth, and. No sun? Hi Jane, Buddleja davidii is fast growing and a large shrub, up to 5m with 5m spread, and best kept in check by pruning. Submitted by virginia simpson on May 17, 2020 - 1:36pm. Submitted by Denise on January 28, 2020 - 7:04pm. It is understandable that gardeners love butterfly bush plants (Buddleia davidii). Also, try removing (deadheading) the spent blooms periodically during the summer to encourage additional new growth and subsequent flowers until frost. Shrubs will establish quicker if they are planted right, getting them off to the best possible start. Find out what to do if your butterfly bush is not coming back in the spring in this article and how to revive it. The type of maintenance your shrub needs depends on the type. This deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub typically grows from 6 to 10 feet tall by 4 to 10 feet wide with a rather open, arching form. The fast-growing butterfly bush reaches a mature height of 6 to 10 feet tall in one or two growing seasons. The only growth was lots of fuzzy leaves with no wood at all. I don't think it is re-growing though. I bought one last summer and planted it and it did great! They need plenty of sun, but will be fine with some shade in the warmer areas. Wrinkled leaves could be a sign that the plant needs to be watered more. You can lightly trim the plant all over to remove them, or remove them individually. Several dwarf varieties, like the Lo and Behold and Pugster series, are especially sized for container growing since they are slightly more or less than 2 feet high and wide each summer. This woody shrub can die back to the ground in climates colder than USDA zone 5. Plant native host plants. May 1, 2013 at 12:32 PM. Anonymous. These are the big purple ones. Please note that the butterfly bush, originally imported from China, has been classified as an invasive species in most U.S. regions. 0 0. stacy. Appreciative for your service. And, with their quick-growing nature, they work well when planted as a hedge too. Before planting, be sure to check the mature growth size of your selected variety for proper plant spacing. The shrub is low-maintenance, only requiring dead-heading and annual pruning in later winter to encourage flowers and a compact shape. Butterflies swarm to them. Add in generous amounts of compost when planting to help the plant adjust to it’s new location. I had thought maybe the next year they would have the two colors that I saw in pictures but this summer it still has only one color (we planted it in the fall). Butterfly bushes can be invasive in many warm climates. Commonly known as the butterfly bush, the flower heads are full of nectar and are a magnet for many insects. They are also losing their leaves? Very aggressive. What Type of Maintenance Do Fast Growing Shrubs for Full Sun Require? Butterfly bushes grow and flower extremely quickly, displaying beautiful and strongly- scented flowers. You do need to prune in early spring; this promotes vigorous new growth and flowering. But you’re saying your flowers DO bloom and just do not last a long time. If you insist on growing butterfly bush in your garden, do the right thing: deadhead Buddleia flowers as soon as the blooms are spent, all season long. 0 0. The butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) is a beautiful, fast-growing, deciduous shrub with masses of blossoms—long, spiked trusses—that bloom from summer to autumn. These beautiful clumps of flowers bloom from summer to fall and come in a variety of colors, but do keep in mind that if you're trying to attract butterflies, they do prefer the lavender/pink shades! These styles tend to be less invasive than the larger varieties, growing to just a few feet in diameter and height. The shrub can grow to 6 to 8 feet high and 5 to 8 feet wide. Does the plant get a ton of water or is it fairly dry? I will buy another one in the next month--it was so beautiful and the butterflies and bees loved it. I purchased a 4" grower pot of the Black Knight butterfly bush this season and am planting it in the front of my new home. Plant the powdered stem into a pot that half/half perlite and peat, dampened but not drippy. Thanks! Growing and Caring Butterfly bush wikimedia.org. Typically, the easiest and most successful way to add Butterfly Weed to your garden is to grow it from seed form. In other words, the butterfly bush is known to crowd out native plants that are essential to wildlife, including butterflies and birds. Submitted by The Editors on February 24, 2020 - 10:08am. Hummingbirds and bees prefer my other flowers but they do attract bees. After their long trek North i think the butterflies deserve the feast found on even the smallest bush! Their stems are square in cross-section, and young shoots are covered by dense, white hairs. This article may contain affiliate links. The reddish ones last much longer. Should I cut all the leaves to the ground or should I let it grow. With enough sunlight, they should bloom just fine this summer, no matter what you do (within reason). Do not trust the 'sterile' varieties. If it has, you can transplant it to a larger container. Is it dead? 11. It’s still early in season so you should be able to try a new one if it comes to that. If you do have a butterfly bush, be sure to add native host plants such as milkweed, aster, and dill if you want the butterflies to stay. Lv 4. Now I am thinking of adding some MiracleGro or maybe some fish emulsion...HELP PLEASE, Submitted by The Editors on June 17, 2019 - 3:57pm. How quick do butterfly bushes grow? Butterfly Bush will fill a corner, create a hedge or become the background of a large planting bed in one season. It is hardy in zones 5 through 9, the blue-chip is best suited to growing in full sun. Source: almanac.com. I am planning on getting a couple more plants to place in my garden but I wanted to try and save this one if still able to. How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Butterfly Bushes. Buddleia, commonly known as butterfly bush, is a long-lasting shrub that can grow up to 7 feet tall. New breeding has created many dwarf varieties that fit better in the landscape. Can we cultivate a new plant from some branches and if so, how? Someone else owns the house, and the bush now. Although traditional butterfly bushes grow quite large, there are also several compact styles available. Advertisement. Certainly not. The leaves of some cultivars are densely hairy underneath. Instead, we recommend using plants that better support the native landscape and food web, given our declining pollinator population. Butterfly bushes can be found with blooms of white, blue, purple and red, as well as a huge mix of hybrid colors as well. The plant tag will tell you the mature size of the cultivar you have chosen. Growing Butterfly Bushes in the Garden: How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Buddleja, or Buddleia. Press the bag to remove all … BONUS: You’ll also receive our Almanac Companion newsletter! It seems to be healthy, but I just worry that is a sign of something wrong. However it came with only one color (purple) flowers. My roommates mom planted a butterfly bush a few years ago right before she passed away. NOTE: Butterfly bush is considered an invasive plant in many regions. Those are gone, and all I have is a twig like stem, about 8 inches tall. Plant the bush in the spring or fall, making sure that each one is 5 to 10 feet apart to allow for plenty of growing room. A butterfly bush will bloom all summer long. Butterfly bushes grow quickly, and can compete for space when planted too close. It grows fast. How To Plant A Green Manure Crop To Recharge Garden Soil This Spring! I am not sure how long to wait for something to happen, or if I should cut back to ground, or am I doomed? In warmer climates, the bushes will grow into trees and develop rugged trunks that peel; peeling is normal. Give it time to become established, then transplant it into the soil. ( I have other plants, trees and shrubs E.g. How To Create An Inexpensive Homemade Compost Bin That Works. At full maturity, many full-sized varieties grow from 6 to 8 feet in both height and diameter. Fertilizing . It grows 5-10 feet high and as wide, so it can make fast impact on your yard for little cash. If someone took 75% of your food away, you wouldn't be a happy camper. Although butterfly bushes can be planted “bare-root” style in the dormant months of early spring and fall, most are planted as live container-grown plants in mid to late spring and summer. Another compact variety, the Blue Chip butterfly bush grows to around 2′ in height and width at full maturity. Creating The Perfect Summer Compost Pile – Making Compost Fast, How To Control Aphids – 4 Simple Methods To Battle Aphids Naturally. Submitted by Fred on May 2, 2020 - 6:21pm, I have 3 butterfly bushes And the leaves are turning yellow and wilting in the late afternoon. I am new to having butterfly bushes. Also, what kind of growth can I expect in one year? As you will see below, there are also many new more compact varieties available that can be easier to manage. My dead twig is a beautiful blooming plant this year.The other 2 plants did the same thing in winter and all came back covered with beautiful blooms.So good luck with yours. I know they are praised as being "quick" growers but curious how many seasons it will take to reach the 6-8ft mark and fill out nicely. Over time, bushes get tall and leggy and require pruning. The compact varieties have become quite popular in recent years for smaller gardens and settings. The Miss Molly (pictured earlier in the article) variety is a more compact shrub than the standard butterfly bush. I planted two butterfly bushes last spring. lily of the valley, wisteria , ivy, maple seedlings ...that are invasive and others that spread easily ( lilies, Columbine,rudbeckia, irises, forsythia, ...but i find these plant to hold their space. Submitted by deborah pender on June 2, 2019 - 10:56am. Best Answers. Check with your local extension office prior to planting to ensure that the plant is permitted in your area. Yes, hack to the ground! My butterfly bush got too big and split in half and then died. Is your bush getting enough sun? It will indeed shed its leaves in the fall, making the appear dead but it's not; new leaves will arrive in spring. My Butterfly Bush is growing well and blooming, but the lower leaves are wrinkled. What’s the location like? Shake or tap off excess powder. Photos: Ptelea . Or, if it is not possible to get a cutting from the original plant, in good faith to your roommate’s mother (it’s the thought that counts), you could purchase a plant. I am in central Illinois and its been cooler so far this spring, would that effect the growth? Still have questions? We don't envision they will just let us dig it up. Susie says. It seems to REALLY attract hummingbirds as well . We can’t be sure from this vantage point: It could take the plant a bit of time to become established. The house came with a butterfly bush and I admit I am not good at knowing how to care for things outside. Buddleia × Weyeriana ‘Honeycomb’ A taller variety, growing up to 12 feet, it is one of the butterfly bushes less tolerant to winter. Space plants 5 to 10 feet apart, depending on the variety. Submitted by Mary Nichols on June 25, 2020 - 9:28am. Suggestions, Submitted by The Editors on May 4, 2020 - 2:29pm. Leaves are opposite, 3 to 5 inches long by 1 to 3 inches wide, varying from deep green to gray-green to silvery-gray. Submitted by The Editors on July 23, 2019 - 8:49am. They have never re-seeded or become invasive for me. Lots of sun? The cone or wand-shaped flower heads grow 5 … Butterfly bushes are fast growing and bloom on new wood. 6-7 years. Fungal leaf spots and die-backs can occur. They are planted in good top soil, with some slow release fertilizer. It's a warm spring already in Northern Cal. If rain is infrequent, be sure to keep the bush watered after transplanting. The bush should bloom abundantly even in its first year. Some bushes require trimming to encourage new growth. You only need to make sure about the garden layout so that the plant does not attack other nearby plants. Butterfly bushes perform at their peak in full sun, so it is important to select an area that receives at least 8 hours of sunlight per day. Submitted by The Editors on August 9, 2019 - 11:16am. Several plants go by the common name Butterfly Bush. Buddleias need full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Is the soil well-draining or is it quite clayey? If you think things are dire, you could take a picture of the plant to show to the good folks at Tractor Supply or even uproot it, gently, and bring it back to express your dissatisfaction. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Avoid pruning in late spring, summer, fall, or early winter. Since they bloom on new wood, even if there is no die-back, cut them back to the ground every spring. Butterfly bushes, a double-edge sword. Buddleia is an easy and fast-growing shrub, that will suit any garden where there is sun and well-drained soil. Submitted by Heather on May 15, 2019 - 12:49pm. Knoxville, TN, Submitted by The Editors on May 29, 2019 - 4:33pm. The Butterfly Bush, aka summer lilac, is a gorgeous (although sometimes invasive—see below), fast-growing, deciduous shrub with hundreds of blossoms that bloom from summer to autumn that act as somewhat of a "beacon" to butterflies and hummingbirds. Growth Habit: Butterfly bushes grow 2 to 10 feet tall and wide. (We would advise this of any plant that does not seem to “take” when planted.) Perhaps tie the branches up to a couple stakes—or a trellis, as you mentioned. Loosen the soil, mix in compost, and dig a hole twice the diameter of the plant container. Submitted by Terri Tripani on March 17, 2020 - 8:36am. Patience, summer is when you will see it again. Tried removing spent blooms, new blooms were still punny. The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly. I live on the coast in Massachusetts & the Bush is approximately 6 years old; I’d very much appreciate any advice about how/when to relocate this bush. yes it is very easy and very fast to grow you get 2 shade flowers dark and light . In warm climates, it can become a noxious weed and spread aggressively, while in cooler climates, it mostly stays contained within a garden’s cultivated soil if gardeners deadhead the flowers. Avoid fertilizing butterfly bush; too much fertility promotes leaf growth over flower production. This year nothing seems be happening at all so far, no blooms or even things that look like buds. Last year it starting putting on nice size leaves, the leaves yellowed and no blooms.This year the plant is doing the same, leaves are yellowing, no blooms. With it’s dark-red sangria-colored blooms, it is a show-stopper in gardens and flowerbeds! The most commonly grown is B.davidii (image above left) which is deciduous. Here is to planting and growing butterfly bushes in the landscape! Lots of water? As one of the last things her mom was able to do, she really would like to have part of this bush growing at her mother's grave. Is it to late to cut back? About one or two days. A butterfly bush LOVES sun and requires a minimum of 8 hours of bright sunlight. Growing Butterfly Bushes in the Garden: How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Buddleja, or Buddleia. 1 decade ago. It is hardy in zones 5 through 9, and prefers full sun. The key to keeping them in check is to keep plants well-pruned, and remove new starts. Submitted by Richard Taylor on June 22, 2019 - 7:23pm, I have 2 Madagascar butterfly bush growing instead of becoming tree or shrub like they are sprawling everywhere. Also called “summer lilacs,” butterfly bushes are hardy to Zone 5 and remain evergreen from Zone 8 south. In 3 to 6 weeks, tug on it gently to see if it has set roots. Now my butterfly bush is 8-9 feet tall and leaning over to the ground. I have a beautiful & healthy Butterfly Bush in a bed right next to my front door-The bees LOVE this bush so I absolutely want to keep it but I’d like to relocate it to the backyard garden away from my front door (my dog was recently stung by a bee while entering the house). Make sure you space butterfly plants 5 – 8 feet apart. Custom programming and server maintenance by, See alternative plants that attract butterflies. See alternative plants that attract butterflies. Sometimes they have a harder time coming back, however. Sunlight; The butterfly bush care needs an abundant source of sunlight. I didn't know these plants need to be cut back. Here are a few great flowering alternatives that also serve as host plants for caterpillars: See a list of host plants native to your area here: Native Plant Finder, Submitted by Liz on August 2, 2020 - 6:54am. Buddleias are very late to break dormancy, so don’t be in a hurry to assess winter damage. When it comes to attracting butterflies, bees and even hummingbirds, nothing works quite like growing butterfly bushes! Please don’t stop selling them. Product Link : Miss Molly Butterfly Bush. :( It's cut pretty much down to the ground, and there a some small green leaves on the bottom, coming off the stem that was cut. Sometimes plants take the transition poorly and look worse before they get better. on How To Plant A Green Manure Crop To Recharge Garden Soil This Spring! Submitted by Mary on June 14, 2020 - 11:53am. Yes they do grow fast .taht is if you give it all of the sun and water that it needs!! A miniature, non-invasive butterfly bush, it is a hardy plant with a fast growth rate. You may have seen these plants with their blue-purple flower clusters poking out of the bush, and a ton of butterflies and bees visiting the flowers as soon as it gets warm and sunny. Before planting, be sure to check the mature growth size of your selected variety for proper plant spacing. What is the planting site like? 8 years ago . In the summer, water if rainfall is less than 1 inch per week. Dig your … 10. The bush is about 6 feet tall and has a hard center stalk like a tree. How big do butterfly bushes get? Butterfly bush spreads easily because it produces thousands of seeds during the course of a growing season. Any suggestions? Water in the roots at planting time, and keep well-watered over the following weeks until the shrub becomes established. ‘Evil Ways’ Striking plants with golden leaves and dark gorgeous flowerheads. This is an invasive species that is harmful to our eco system. We will add that the butterfly bush in considered an invasive now. 0 0. Make use of spacing to make a short hedgerow or just to achieve different aesthetics. Submitted by DJ Christman on November 4, 2019 - 9:01pm, Submitted by BlackBird on August 7, 2019 - 10:04pm. ... (Buddleia davidii) is a beautiful, fast-growing, deciduous shrub with masses of blossoms—long, spiked trusses—that bloom from summer to autumn. Caterpillars do not feed on butterfly bushes; rather, it only provides nectar to adult butterflies. Its flowers come in many colors, though butterflies seem to prefer the lavender-pink (mauve) of the species to the white and dark purple cultivars. When it comes to available varieties, the sky is really the limit for choosing size and color. This full size bush has intensely-dark purple / violet blooms. How To Grow Devil’s Ivy – The Perfect Houseplant, And Outdoor Plant Too! on Creating The Perfect Summer Compost Pile – Making Compost Fast, on How To Control Aphids – 4 Simple Methods To Battle Aphids Naturally, How To Eliminate Mosquitoes Naturally From Your Backyard And Patio, How To Tie Up Tomato Plants – The Best Ties To Choose And Use. Are you definitely referring to Buddleia davidii, which blooms on new growth? Is it in full sun or shade? If you have done your research and have decided that a Butterfly Bush is the perfect addition to your garden area, keep the following tips … You can cut Buddleias back every year to 10 to 12 inches, and they will become six-foot giants again by the end of summer. In fact, they have become a go-to plant in recent years for those looking to create their own backyard butterfly gardens. Hi, We had ordered a bicolor butterfly bush which we planted in the fall. Submitted by Mike meyer on July 20, 2019 - 12:46pm. Butterfly bushes grow quickly and reach their mature size in two years or less. The sun-loving deciduous shrub is easy to grow and easy to propagate by seeds, cuttings or division. ATekk. To do this, place an envelope of seeds in a freezer bag. Loosen the soil about 12 to 15 inches deep, adding a 2 to 4 inches layer of compost. See : How To Create The Perfect Summer Compost Pile. Please check with your local cooperative extension for more information. Submitted by Ashley on April 20, 2020 - 3:05pm. The warmer your climate, the more you should cut back your butterfly bush each spring. That is strange. The best time to transplant perennial plants is in the fall or early spring, when they’re neither flowering nor producing new growth. You can let it grow into a shrub form, (which could eventually be about 12’x15’) but your flower “show” won’t be as spectacular. Older types of butterfly bushes do bloom better if their old blooms are removed, however. As a good rule of thumb, mix equal parts of compost and soil back when filling in the planting hole. We are in zone 5b in MA. 0 0. I was unaware that it needed to be pruned back so I got it pruned back a couple weeks ago, early spring. Use it to add texture to the front of your flower garden. Find out how to plant a shrub. It must be invasive up north bc I never dead-headed it and I have no seedlings. on the upper portion on the plant, cut just below a healthy bud (new growth) and avoid the flower buds as much as possible. It is ideally used for borders because of it’s mounding character. Despite the “butterfly” name, keep in mind that this shrub is not a “host plant” for butterflies in that it does not support butterfly reproduction and lifecycle. And we mean FAST. Ensure the planting site for this shrub has adequate space for the plant to reach its full height and width. Please read Doug Tallamy's books. The shrubs are low maintenance, grow fast and – in the summer – produce beautiful, fragrant flowers that are attractive to bees, hummingbirds and butterflies. Dara I bought 3 butterfly bush's on clearance sale last year they looked great.One of them did the same as yours.I kept it anyway just to see if it would come back and it did it's as big as the other 2 .I didn't cut mine back until this year so I would remember what was in pot.So keep your twig in same pot it may come back. There are larger and smaller varieties, good for borders and pots. Butterfly bushes, also known as budleias, are stunning fast growing shrubs with big clumps of blooms that attract butterflies! Hardiness Zone: 5 to 9. Hardiness Zone: 5 to 9. Though they will perform well without supplemental fertilizer, fast-growing, vigorous butterfly bushes do tend to grow and bloom more when fertilized. Dampen the lower portion of stem and “dip” it into root powder (this is dry powder, so “dip” means cover it). How to Grow Butterfly Weed From Seed . Don’t bother with the $40 ten gallon size from the nursery. 1 decade ago. Submitted by Jane Boice on July 14, 2020 - 2:50pm. read more. See plants that attract butterflies. It is perfect as a focal point, or when used as a hedge plant. Think carefully about the location when planting they will grow to be over 4′ wide and 4′ to 6′ tall. Submitted by Sandra Buelow on June 15, 2019 - 5:53pm, I bought my butterfly bush a few years ago, it bloomed beautifully the first-year, after that the leaaves and blooms were just puny. It had a few leaves at the time. I live in Pa. and have had butterfly bushes for 34 years. Remove spent flower spikes to encourage new shoots and flower buds. In the northern limit of their range, they behave as herbaceous perennials, dying back to the root in cold winters. Butterfly bush are quite easy to grow, but you do need to know a bit about their preferences ... Left unpruned, large butterfly bushes can become “second story” plants: their flowers form way up at the top so you can’t enjoy them unless you have a second story window. Find out how to prune shrubs of all kinds in this short step-by-step video by expert David Hurrion. It looks like it has new growth on it. Size, form and leaf color can vary widely b… Deadheading of this invasive is now required in many states. I added some top soil a couple of weeks ago, it might be too soon to see if it helped. butterfly bushes grow very fast.so much so that here in Wa. It sounds like the plant would benefit from support of some sort. Water freely when in growth and sparingly otherwise. Buy them in four inch pots for $3, wait one season and have full size bushes! Give your butterfly bush plenty of room. Butterfly bushes grow quickly, and can compete for space when planted too close. They're happy in almost any soil and prefer moist ground, but will also do well in dryer spots. This Is My Garden is a garden website created by gardeners, publishing two articles every week, 52 weeks a year. They’ll create an impact while slower-growing shrubs catch up. From some other comments here - the soil I have been told is kind of clayey, it should have good drainage, it rains here pretty regularly though seems to be wetter this year, lots of sun in that spot. The most efficient way to cultivate a new plant is to take a a healthy-looking 4 to 6 inch stem (vibrant color, minimal to no wilting or present disease, etc.) Despite its invasiveness, the plant with its beautiful flowers would still be an excellent addition to your garden as a bordering bush. Fast-growing shrubs are vigorous growers and should produce flowers early on. Before hard frost and snow arrive, you may want to add a 2-3 inch layer of mulch over top of the plant—just as added protection for this winter. The species versions grow the largest and produce the most flowers. I live in Southeast Michigan and have had a butterfly bush for approx. These deciduous shrubs become overloaded with butterflies as their massive, nectar-filled blooms appear in early summer. state,they are being considered for a noxious weed. Submitted by Steve on May 24, 2019 - 4:55pm. Submitted by The Editors on May 29, 2019 - 4:28pm. This helps the seeds germinate by mimicking the seeds' natural dormancy period. Butterfly bushes should be able to survive winter in USDA zones 5 through 10. The top of root ball should be planted even with the surface of the soil. What would be the best way to have them growing up rather than ground level sprawling. Is that considered re-growth? Placing the container where it receives at least 6 hours of sun a day, preferably 8 hours, ensures the best flowering. All this tells you that this plant is a tough one, and should be easy to grow in your garden. Hardiness Zone: 5 to 9. If you would still like to put a butterfly bush in your garden, there are a few species of non-invasive butterfly bushes native to the southwestern US. Submitted by Joy on April 30, 2020 - 6:01pm. Luckily, butterfly bushes are vigorous growers and are easily transplanted! Is that a concern? It's been in the ground for 1 year. Plant fresh seeds in fall for growth the following spring, or allow any established Butterfly Weeds already in your garden to do the work for you. Germinate butterfly bush seeds by chilling the seeds for approximately four weeks prior to planting. Here are a few top choices for butterfly bushes, including a few compact styles: When it comes to growing butterfly bushes, the Black Night variety is a beauty! Thank you. And perhaps best of all, butterfly bushes keep on blooming all summer long, keeping these flying beauties coming back again and again. I have many types of flowering shrubs but the butterflies love these best. Butterfly bushes grow from 6 to 12 feet (2-4 m.) tall with a spread of 4 to 15 feet (4-5 m.). Thanks. Submitted by Shan on February 23, 2020 - 11:11am. We've been here for 2 years and I have never done anything to the plant at all. In addition, it is important to deadhead the flowers just as they start to wither so that this invasive plant doesn’t spread volunteer seeds. When planting a butterfly bush remember that it needs a lot of sun. Try watering slightly more frequently and checking the leaves again after a week or two! The dwarf buddleia grows in a low, compact, ball shape while most butterfly bushes grow in a semi-upright manner. Submitted by Dara Beam on May 29, 2019 - 10:19am, I put out a small butterfly bush start from Tractor Supply this spring. When placing the plant in the hole, the top of the rootball should be level with the soil surface. The Black Night matures to about 6 to 8 feet in width and height. Even where winters are mild enough for the stems to survive, prune severely to stimulate abundant growth on which flowers are borne. Remove the foliage from the bottom third of the stem. read more. Submitted by The Editors on July 23, 2020 - 4:43pm. Once in the ground, the foliage may look a little sad for a while, but it will recover once the roots re-establish themselves (or the foliage will die back in winter anyway, if it normally does). How to Care for a Butterfly Bush And even better, it blooms from early summer all the way to the first frost! Of course, if your busy is NOT flowering, that’s usually an issue of pruning at the wrong time. In cold, Northern climates, spread mulch up to 6 inches deep around the trunk to nurture it through the winter. Ashley, trust me these bushes are hard to kill! Beyond their common use in butterfly gardens, butterfly bushes make for a great focal point when planted in large flowerbeds as well. Why are my flowers on my butterfly bush not lasting very long. In the warmer states, butterfly bushes often grow to 10 or 12 ft. high, and require pruning to keep them shapely. You can prune back Butterfly bush (Buddleia) in late winter or early spring to encourage more new growth and flowers. I love these bushes. Would it benefit putting on a trellis, Submitted by The Editors on June 24, 2019 - 10:51am. Submitted by Richard on June 29, 2019 - 5:27pm. Also, we’d like to have a big bush, but do I still need to cut it back in the spring in order for it to bloom better? Cover the plant lightly with plastic, place it in indirect sunlight, and mist it to keep the soil damp. Thanks for any help anyone can offer, it means a lot to her. Dig planting holes to twice the size in diameter of the root ball to help loosen the soil for good root expansion and growth. This year, the blooms have a few flowers on the top of the flower stem but mostly look spent/dead very quickly- it is not the profuse flower bud stems of when we planted it. It could be that the planting site is just not ideal for the plant! Many summer-flowering shrubs grow quickly and can take heavy pruning.