While the flowering period for ornamental shrubs is at a near end or has already ended, this beautiful and heavy-growth blossom grove is riddled with panicles. Understand how to prune butterfly bushes through these tips. For proper maintenance, mulching and pruning these bushes in spring time are necessary. Wait for the right time of year to prune. Though pruning can be done. When you're pruning the butterfly bush, always keep in mind that it blooms on new wood. Soak the soil down to and around the butterfly bush’s root zone. Depending upon the cultivator, the flower color may be white, pink, yellow, orange, red, or violet. Pruning butterfly bushes annually actually enhances the flower display. Generally, most butterfly bush pruning should take place during the winter months, in warmer climates, while the plant is dormant. There’s also a bonus second flush of flower heads around 25cm long in late summer, when the … Its common name, the ‘Butterfly Bush’, refers to the insects that it attracts in profusion right through summer to autumn. As the buddleia grows quickly, you will have to … Should I cut them back this fall or wait until next spring? Hard pruning can promote the production of larger blossoms and new arching branches. That’s it. Regarding your butterfly bush (Buddlia), you are safe to prune it at either time as long as it is late winter moving into early spring. Leave the bare stems through winter if you can, letting birds enjoy landing on them near your winter bird feeder. However, certain pruning techniques will help promote more vigorous growth and healthier blooms. In order to keep your butterfly bush looking its best, regular pruning is a necessary task. It is suited for growing in any garden theme. Butterfly bush tree, Buddleia – Planting, Care and Pruning. In our area, these shrubs are almost herbaceous, that is, after most winters they die to the ground. The butterfly bush will go dormant in winter in most planting zones. May 10, 2020 - Explore Ppsl's board "Pruning butterfly bush" on Pinterest. Because of this, they usually require no more than removing the dead canes in early spring before they leaf out. Butterfly Bush – Pruning, Winter Care and Fertilizing. Early OCTOBER. Avoid removing new, healthy growth from the butterfly bush, because you'll also end up removing that year's flowers. In fact, butterfly bush pruning can take place just about any time of the year. Many butterfly bush varieties are grown in yards as showy ornamentals. Butterfly bush is a summer flowering shrub blooming best when located in full sun. Since these are hardy shrubs, they can tolerate frost and extreme cold conditions. Just make … pruning the Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii) Buddleia davidii is one of the most widely grown shrubs in UK gardens. Pruning your butterfly bush is an absolute necessity if you want to encourage it to flower abundantly. Butterfly bushes are low-maintenance and most grow well in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 11, tolerating winter temperatures down to minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Don’t let the calendar dictate when you need to prune. Trim to shape the butterfly bush in early June if desired and cut away any branches that died during the winter. Plant the butterfly bushes in spring or fall, spacing the bushes at least 5 feet apart. Buddleia (Buddleia davidii), also known as butterfly bush, is a shrub with multiple shoots that tends to grow and flower fast.The buddleia is a favorite of gardeners, due to its fragrant scent and its attractiveness to pollinators. The flowers of buddleia grow at the end of young shoots which are stimulated by pruning, actually helping the plant to rejuvenate. If it does not thrive, try relocating it into more sunshine. There are two reasons for this. Because the butterfly bush is a hardy perennial it will come back … That’s not a good thing. The fruit type is a capsule that contains many seeds. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Pruning Butterfly Bushes. Though they may be lightly trimmed in autumn to remove any flower heads (and along with them, any lurking seeds) and neaten them up a bit, spring is far preferable for pruning. Deadhead the faded blooms from the bush once every week or two weeks to keep it blooming instead of producing seeds. Heavy mulching should be done to control weeds. Taking the stems back to around a foot in length is recommended. Choose a planting site for your butterfly bush that’s in full sunlight and has moist but well-draining soil. Pruning . Like many other flowering shrubs, the butterfly bush must be pruned at the right time of the year to control it's shape and to encourage the most blooms. In simple terms, heavy pruning during spring may lead to late flowering of the butterfly bushes. Read here to learn more. Some of the species are dioecious (male and female reproductive organs in different plants) while some are monoecious (male and female reproductive organs in the same plant). Regarding the pruning time for this hardy shrub, the most common question is when to prune butterfly bush? Water your butterfly bush deeply once each week during the spring and summer whenever rainfall is less than 1 inch. Experts say we can prune to about 12 inches tall to encourage lots of new shoots where the plant will flower. Butterfly bush, belonging to the genus Buddleia and family Scrophulariaceae, is a type of flowering plant, which is native to southern United States and Asia. Prune back all old growth nearly to ground level once each year in early spring, before any new growth emerges. Q How do I prune buddleia (butterfly bush)? There are about 100 species of this genus, which are adapted to various environmental conditions. When to prune butterfly bush: In mild climates, prune larger varieties in late fall or early spring to clean up and maintain shape. If a severe winter is on the way this practice could be detrimental to your plant. If you have selected a large Butterfly Bush variety, hard pruning in late spring will help to ensure the shrub doesn't get out of control. At times, you may observe attractive hummingbirds drawing nectar from the ravishing red flowers of a butterfly bush. Left unpruned Buddleia will quickly develop into a large shrub (3m/10ft) and can take over a smaller garden. All Rights Reserved. Yes, the pruned Butterfly Bush will look like a stag's antlers - but not for long. Spread on top a 2- to 4-inch layer of bark mulch to help control weeds and preserve soil moisture. Since most butterfly bush varieties can handle cold down to zone 5, they grow in plenty of climates with fall, winter, or spring freezes. This butterfly bush is classified as an invasive plant is some parts of the United States. Grab a pair of secateurs and remove the conical seed heads that have provided you with structure and interest throughout the winter. For the other healthy branches, cut till they attain a height of 2 - 3 feet. There are two types of butterfly bushes: Buddleia davidii and Buddleia alternifolia. You can cut the dead and dry stems at the base during the fall. Pruning Buddleia (Butterfly Bush): When doing your fall clean-up avoid pruning Butterfly Bush all the way back here in zone 7 where winter is approaching. If your butterfly bush is getting scraggly or out of control, prune it- no matter what time of year it is. Spread a 1-inch layer of organic compost on the ground around your butterfly bush once each year in spring. How to Plant Butterfly Bush Butterfly bushes, sometimes called summer lilacs, are recommended for USDA hardiness zones 5 to 10 and need full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Soak the soil down to and around the butterfly bush’s root zone. Cutting the stems back in fall can make the shrub more vulnerable to freeze damage. For pruning butterfly bushes in spring and summer months, you can cut off the branches that are growing out of control. Rather, wait until late winter/early spring (March-April) to perform this task. The butterfly bush produces fragrant, showy flowers that can be blue, red, pink, yellow or white, depending on the shrub variety. Ensure that you do not over trim the branches, as the plants will require a long time for resprouting. Keep in mind the butterflies prized for … Butterfly bush tree, Buddleia – Planting, Care and Pruning . A butterfly bush may be pruned back to a height of about four feet before winter sets in or it may be cut back completely. Avoid pruning though in early winter. Cut back the entire butterfly bush to about 4 feet tall each year in late fall. Quick video about pruning Buddleja. The reason being, the stems are hollow and any water that accumulates in the stem and subsequently freezes will cause the wood to split. See more ideas about Butterfly bush, Pruning butterfly bush, Planting flowers. Pruning these attractive plants becomes necessary for their maintenance. Best to do in fall, about every 2 or 3 years to yield more flowers and a thicker shrub in the coming year. Some basic tips for clipping butterfly bushes are as follows. That means in most growing zones, there is no need to prune your butterfly bush before winter. Here are guidelines on pruning butterfly bush, to help you in the job. ButterflyBushes.com: When and How Should I Prune My Butterfly Bush? Choose a planting site for your butterfly bush that's in full sunlight and has moist but well-draining soil. The answer is…..ANYTIME! A When Which? Dig a hole about twice the diameter of the root ball, and set your plant in … Plant the butterfly bushes in spring or fall, spacing the bushes at least 5 feet apart. Just make sure you don't undertake this task … However, the butterfly bush can also be pruned in the spring with no ill effects. Pruning also avoids this fast growing bush from killing other plants, which grow in its vicinity. Mountain Valley Growers: Butterfly Bushes. Buddleia davidii is a deciduous shrub with dark purple flowers that blooms June through September. If you do not regularly practice pruning the bush will age rapidly, bloom less and grow sparse in its centre. One reached five feet, the other four. Deadheading. In fact, pruning too late in fall could leave it more susceptible to damage. Within a few weeks it will start into grow the give you a nice arching shrub, that will soon grow to around 6ft - 1.8 metres in a matter of a couple of months, and have fresh foliage, and large flowers drooping the branches over to give a pleasing arching habit. Pruning Fall is not the time to prune butterfly bushes. They're easy to care for and only require dead-heading and some annual pruning. Majority butterfly bush species exhibit a shrub habit (about 5 meters height), while few are trees (tallest being 30 meters long). Spread a 1-inch layer of organic compost on the ground around your butterfly bush once each year in spring. You should prune your butterfly bush when it needs to be pruned. Butterfly Bush. As the very name suggests, a butterfly bush is highly attractive to butterflies, honeybees, and other beneficial pollinating insects. Flower spikes form on new wood, so watch for new growth if pruning … In cold climates, treat as perennials, cutting back close to the ground in late winter or early spring. Time to figure out what to prune next…. Butterfly bush growth appears on new wood, so pruning can wait until the new wood is ready to grow in spring. The flowers of a butterfly bush are vibrant-colored and honey-scented, attracting butterflies and other pollinating insects. Doing so will help in easy recovery of the plants when the growing conditions are favorable. For plantation, butterfly bush grows best in sunny areas and well-drained soil. Nov 15, 2014 - We all know the importance of pruning shrubs and trees. Hence, many gardeners consider the period of late winter or early spring as the ideal time for pruning a butterfly bush. This video shows you how to prune and when to do it. When and How to Prune Butterfly Bushes Pruning Butterfly Bushes is easy. The butterfly bush is a large, arching and upright shrub that blooms profusely from midsummer through autumn. Hence, pruning to the ground is not necessary for proper recovery of the plants. Wait to prune your butterfly bush until late winter or early spring. These lovely flower clusters attract butterflies more so than the flowers of most other landscape plants. Buddleia plants should be pruned twice a year: the first pruning is a hard-cutting in the spring, with a second pruning in the fall to cut away the spent flowers after the blooms fade away. The butterfly bush is a large, arching and upright shrub that blooms profusely from midsummer through autumn. While it has been said that improper pruning practices result in weakened or damaged plants, this is not the case with the butterfly bush. Because I want my bush to be tall as a background bush, I will prune my center stalks to about 24 -36 inches to retain some height. It will tolerate part-sun and bloom just fine, but the increasing shade will reduce flowering. Pruning Buddleia in Summer will be of benefit to the plant, not having to produce seeds on the old flowers and it will certainly extend the flowering season well into summer. Butterfly Bush. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, colorful butterfly on a butterfly bush image by Scott Slattery from, National Gardening Association: Plant Care Guides - Butterfly Bush. If the plant has died back to the ground, a clean cut about 2″ above ground line is best. It is often planted in the borders of flower beds or as protective hedges. The leaves are elongated and arranged in an opposite manner to the stem. Regarding the pruning time for this hardy shrub, the most common question is when to prune butterfly bush? Though pruning can be done throughout the year, the best time is during cold months (for any zone), when the plants are in their dormant state. ANSWER: Fall pruning of buddleias or any other shrub is inadvisable. The plant blooms in dense panicle inflorescence (about 10 - 45 cm long), in which the flowers are tubular with four spreading petals. Some hobbyists prefer to prune the butterfly bush during spring for better flowering. QUESTION: I planted two butterfly bushes last spring. Water your butterfly bush deeply once each week during the spring and summer whenever rainfall is less than 1 inch. Gardening magazine trialled different pruning methods for buddleia, we found the following method produced the best results. Butterfly bush is a favorite ornamental plant for many gardening enthusiasts. In such a case, one should always maintain a specific height of the bushes (at least 3 feet). November is the best time to give the bush a final pruning in anticipation of its dormant phase. When you’re pruning the butterfly bush, always keep in mind that it blooms on new wood. Spread on top a 2- to 4-inch layer of bark mulch to help control weeds and preserve soil moisture. Plants pruned this way start to as flower at the same time as plants pruned once in spring, but carry on for a week or so longer. Sarah Terry brings over 10 years of experience writing novels, business-to-business newsletters and a plethora of how-to articles. Pruning a butterfly bush could not be simpler. Butterfly Bush do not require pruning, however respond well to and benefit from it. In order to prune a butterfly bush, you will require a sharp bypass pruning tool. Remove branches as per your choice by using a sharp pruning shear to maintain a desired shape. Like any other shrubs, pruning this bush is essential to enhance its appearance as well as to remove dead and diseased branches. The flowers, which are the main attraction of this plant, grow mostly on new growths. Butterfly bush pruning is important, not just to maintain the shape of the bush. Pruning a Butterfly Bush. How to Plant Butterfly Bushes: Before planting a butterfly bush, please keep in mind that they are actually an invasive species and also do not KEEP butterflies there – they only feed male butterflies and do not help with butterfly reproduction. As soon as the winter period is over, butterfly bushes will grow rapidly. You can supplement the soil with organic fertilizers for better growth. Terry has written articles and publications for a wide range of markets and subject matters, including Medicine & Health, Eli Financial, Dartnell Publications and Eli Journals. Prune dwarf butterfly bushes in the early spring. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! Secondly, Butterfly Bush likes a hard pruning. Pruning inhibits the natural hardening off of tissues and can increase the likelihood of winterkill. Prune the butterfly bush in preparation for winter. No, this has nothing to do with following a rock band around on their nationwide tour:-) Deadheading is a simple task which takes only a few minutes. Those who live in the warmest zones can prune their butterfly bushes sooner if they prefer not to have the care stems in the landscape. Buddleia produces blooms from new growth, so pruning needs to be done before new growth appears in spring. Avoid removing new, healthy growth from the butterfly bush, because you’ll also end up removing that year’s flowers. Deadhead the butterfly bush’s flowers to remove the spent blooms throughout its blooming season. Take off all of the dead flowers regularly, and some varieties of butterfly bush will flower until well into the autumn. Butterfly Bush Pruning FIRST: Prune your butterfly bush once a year in early spring, just as they begin to show signs of foliage regrowth.