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.
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.
Also called “summer lilacs,” butterfly bushes are hardy to Zone 5 and remain evergreen from Zone 8 south. The shrub is low-maintenance, only requiring dead-heading and annual pruning in later winter to encourage flowers and a compact shape.
Invasive Concerns
Please note that the butterfly bush, originally imported from China, has been classified as an invasive species in most U.S. regions. In other words, the butterfly bush is known to crowd out native plants that are essential to wildlife, including butterflies and birds. 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.
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. Caterpillars do not feed on butterfly bushes; rather, it only provides nectar to adult butterflies. 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. See plants that attract butterflies.
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. Please check with your local cooperative extension for more information.
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I live in zone 6. I ordered
I live in zone 6. I ordered and received 2 Butterfly bushes in July. They were just tiny seedlings so I planted them in a big pot. They have grown about 2 inches and even produced a flower but I'm concerned about what to do now., If I transplant to the yard will they survive? What can I do to help them?
You can leave the plants in
You can leave the plants in the container and keep them outside until they have been hit by a hard frost. Then move them into a unheated garage or shed and give them a little water during the winter months so that they don't dry out.
bi color butterfly bush indoors
I came across a bi color butterfly bush from Utah his week (early February) it looks like it hasn't gone dormant .. Im zone 5 and Temps are fluctuating from the negatives to 50° (gotta love New England)... so can I skip wintering and keep it alive this way for the next few months? Also, is there a chance it could keep growing if I transplant it to a bigger pot?
Any advice would be appreciated thanks :)
We have butterfly bush that's
We have butterfly bush that's been in the ground for four years. It's has been beaten down by rain and weather to the point that it is not standing up anymore. How do we make it stand up again?
I Live in Las vegas, Nevada.
I Live in Las vegas, Nevada. My Momwanted to get her still young butterfly tree out of the corner it was in, and she knew I was a fan. So she dug it up, put it in a pot and I am unsure about whether or not it will survive. My instinct tells me to leave it in the pot as it is September and I fear the shock of yet another replant so quick may destroy it. What would you suggest? Also, A few leaves had turned black and then wilted, I assume this is transplant shock? and not to worry? Thank You for your time. I GREATLY appreciate feedback.
As long as the container you
As long as the container you have it in is large enough to accomodate the roots, keep it watered and in a spot where it is shaded during the hottest part of the day. When the weather cools off a bit, transplant it to its permanent location.
I live in nothern Mayland. I
I live in nothern Mayland. I planted a butterfly bush in late July of this year. It's been really hot this summer so I've been watering it every day if not every other day. Just enough to keep it moist. But this past week it's been turning brown. It looks almost dead. From reading other comments I see that I shouldn't cut it back till spring and that they come back pretty well from trauma. Is there anything else I can do to bring it back? Or should I just wait it out and hope for the best?
It sounds like you may have
It sounds like you may have overdone the watering causing the roots to drown or rot. Well-drained soil is the key to a successful buddleia.
So it's too late for it?
So it's too late for it? There's nothing more I can do?
Check the soil around the
Check the soil around the plant to make sure it is not too soggy and water when dry. Cut off any dead branches and hope for the best. Where there is life there is hope! I wouldn't give up on it until next spring.
I planted Buddelia davidii
I planted Buddelia davidii 'Buzz' in a large container this summer, it's done well. We're slightly north of the 49th parallel, whatever zone that is...and I have no place to plant it come winter.
Ideas?
You can leave it outside and
You can leave it outside and prune it back after frost. When it gets below mid-20s, overwinter your plant in an unheated garage. Keep the soil on the dry side but not too dry. Repot in the spring.
Live in chgo area,have two
Live in chgo area,have two butterfly bushes over 10ft apart,same sun and earth.One stands tall and upright the other kind of wilts and/or droops yet flowers what does it lack or need?
That's a hard one. Have you
That's a hard one. Have you used any fertilizer nearby? Irrigation can move the chemicals into the root zone of one plant more than another. Also, check for insects. Perhaps one has been attacked, but not the other. Otherwise, I suppose plants are like people. Some are heartier than others.
A neighbor dug up a 5 foot
A neighbor dug up a 5 foot butterfly bush and it looks like they hacked through some of the roots to get it out of the ground. They asked if anyone wanted it so I took it and planted it in my backyard. The leaves had shriveled a bit. Do you think the bush may rejuvenate and come back? I live in Maryland. Thanks in advance.
The best times to transplant
The best times to transplant buddleia (or any shrub) are in the early spring or in the fall. In this case, keep the plant well watered until it's roots recover from the trauma. If the plant is large, cut back some of the excess foliage.
I recently purchased a
I recently purchased a butterfly bush and it was doing fine, I live in Wv I'm not sure what zone that is I don't know that much about them other than I like them. We have had a lot of rain, and my plant looked totally dead. The neighbor who knows about plants told me I should dig it up because it was gone. I decided to cut it back instead even though it's July, I hope it's not going to make a difference. It was totally green when I cut the dead looking branches back, I just hope I haven't cut it back too early. It was dead looking anyway, I guess my question is do you think it will make it until next spring? I did cut it down pretty short thinking it was dead anyway, my timing was way off. Please help.
It's always good to cut off
It's always good to cut off dead or diseased branches. These shrubs handle stress well and will grow back if the roots are still healthy. Give the bush a bit of time and you may see some new growth.
I have a butterfly bush in
I have a butterfly bush in the corner of my yard. It gets a fair amount of sun, and had lovely blooms earlier in the summer. We had a very early spring, so it probably bloomed earlier than normal. Unfortunately, I have found that grasshoppers are loving on the leaves of this bush - and another that I have. The leaves are chewed to lace. The bush still has new growth though. Lately, the leaves towards the bottom of the bush are yellowing. I live in UT and we have had some very hot weather. I water every day. Am I overwatering it?? I am so afraid to not water - I have killed quite a few plants thinking they were getting too much water when in fact, they were not. The soil is good where this bush is - not clay - good drainage. I do water in the evening - should I water in the morning instead? Any advice would be appreciated!!
I just planted , for the 3rd
I just planted , for the 3rd time a butterfly bush. I live in The Dallas/Ft. Worth area. It had flowers in bloom on it when I purchased it. Each spike had buds. As soon as I planted it, they turned brown as if they had bloomed but didn't. Any advise? Shout I cut all the spent (under matured) buds off and hope for the best? Or should I just wait and see what happens? I'm so frustrated! I know they grow here; I've seen mature ones...
I struggle w/butterfly bush
I struggle w/butterfly bush here in zone 9B/10 Tampa Bay region of Florida. I was going to give up, then saw a deep purple flowered one and couldn't resist. I asked at the nursery, and they said the biggest gift I can give the butterfly bush is to water it. They water their potted ones twice a day. Deadhead anything brown just above a node and give your plant a chance to get used to its new home. And good luck to both of us :D
Buddleia Blue Chip Jr.
I just purchased this plant,Buddleia Blue chip Jr., and it is flowering. I live in Southern California, and we have very little rain. How often should I water the plant and do they ever require fertilizer? My nursery told me NOT to fertilize it.
Buddlea is a noxious weed in
Buddlea is a noxious weed in Washington State. The flowers offer some nectar, but no place for egg laying. Do not plant it here!
I just moved in March and my
I just moved in March and my new yard has a very tall Butterfly bush that looks like it hasn't been pruned in years. I don't want to kill it. So if I prune it way back in the Fall will it come back next Spring? I read you're supposed to cut them back to about 2 to 4 feet above ground and if I do that I will be cutting off all foliage.
Someone who knows please let me know how I should prune it.
Thanks
Butterfly bush can survive a
Butterfly bush can survive a deep pruning, but right now might be a good time to just prune about 1/3 of the height
Zone 4 Pink Delight butterfly
Zone 4 Pink Delight butterfly bush. I ordered 8 plants and am wondering if I made a mistake, and they won't grow in Zone 4? Will they survive if prune them down to ground level in late Fall, and put a deep layer of straw over them until next Spring? Thank you.
It may get too cold in zone 4
It may get too cold in zone 4 for the 'Pink Delight'. You can apply a four to six inch layer of mulch covering the crown in the fall and hope for the best.
Will any varieties grow in
Will any varieties grow in zone 4? Thank you.
In general, the butterfly
In general, the butterfly bush is a Zone 5 and south kind of plant. It would be better to look for native plants that will thrive. You might find this database helpful:
www.wildflower.org/plants/
I live in zone 4. I have at
I live in zone 4. I have at least 7 butterfly bushes. One is 17 years old. They grow well here.
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