Bedford Area Master Gardeners Association

Virginia Cooperative Extension

Pruning Your Butterfly Bushes

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The client called in with concerns about a butterfly bush that was not pruned back over winter.  There is no sign of green/growth yet coming from base / roots or on any over-wintered branches.  Can it be pruned now? Will there be blooms this summer if it is pruned now (mid-April)?

DIAGNOSIS / RECOMMENDATION

The best time to prune  butterfly bush is Nov – March. If no new growth is seen now, then prune back to 6″ to 8″ from soil line. If after pruning no new growth is seen later in season, the bush probably did not survive the recent very hard freeze and will have to be replaced.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

While butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) is not native and can be considered as invasive (1, 2), it does provide a long season of bloom (1, 2, 3). There now are many cultivars offering a variety of size of plant and color of bloom.  It is very tolerant of dry conditions and poor soil.  While typically cold hardy (USDA Zones 5-9), the bush can be killed by very low temperatures (3).  It should be noted that butterfly bush does not support caterpillars; as a native of China, our local caterpillars will not feed on the leaves.  But the flowers do attract and support a large number of butterflies, bees, and other insects.

As with any blooming shrub, it is important to prune at the proper time to ensure continued good growth.  Butterfly bushes bloom in summer on the new growth and should be pruned in late winter (typically January through March in this area) (4. 5).  Pruning in the fall or too early in the winter can result in severe freeze damage to the plant when low temperatures occur in January and February.  It may be better to wait until the threat of very low temperatures is past before pruning, but it does need to be done before new growth comes out (3, 4, 5).

From The Bedford Extension MG Help Desk – April 2019

By: Betsy Brown, Bedford Extension Master Gardener Volunteer; Help Desk Coordinator

PHOTO SOURCE https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/butterfly-bush

RESOURCE LINKS

1) https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/butterfly-bush

2) http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/HORT/HORT-84/HORT-84-PDF.pdf

3) https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/butterfly-bush/

4) https://extension.psu.edu/pruning-flowering-shrubs

5) http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/430-462/430-462.html

All resource links live and accessed March 11, 2019

–A Bedford Area Master Gardeners Association (BAMGA) Publication–

Answers provided herein were based on specific situations and growing conditions.These recommendations may or may not be appropriate for all circumstances.For specific recommendations for your particular situation please contact your local Cooperative Extension Office.
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