I'vewondered the same-seems I never get to the pruning on mine-and I wonder why it needs pruned--it blooms each year on all wood..

Mine aren't showing any green yet. I plan to prune them to within 18 inches of the ground! I wouldn't be afraid to prune them even if they had greened up some. I may have cooked my white one!

I didn't prune my yellow one last year, but I didn't think it had as many blooms...we will see how it does this year after a severe pruning that will require the chain saw.

I don't know why it needs pruned. I was told it blooms better if you do. I had someone tell me that either or both Butterfly Bush and Rose of Sharon bloom better if you prune them. Obviously I can't remember. I need to check it out. Just thought it would be easier to ask. I'm feeling lazy!

You don't have to ever prune a rose of sharon, but if you choose to here is some good advice I found online:

If, however, you decide that you absolutely have to prune your plant, the best time is from late March through early May, before the leaf buds open and begin to expand. Pruning in early spring will encourage additional side shoots to form. This should translate into more flowers in July and August, as flower buds will form on many of these new shoots.

prune the heck outta them. they are very robust plants. i pulled up 5 with my pickup. they were too vigorous for me. in some places they can become invasive. just my experience!

william

William you are too neat for butterfly bush. Order confuses me.

For what it's worth -- I prune my butterfly bushes to within 4 inches of the ground in very early spring. Also same for Russian Sage. Rest of the stuff I take out 1/3 each spring at ground level and they do well.

If you have any crepe myrtle prunings, they make wonderful stakes. Straight and strong.
Sunny

sunny- have you had any problems with russian sage becoming invasive? i read that it was invasive.

william

I prune Butterfly bush, Caryopteris, Black lace elderberry, Beautyberry, Red twig dogwoods, Center glow Ninebark, and several Hydrangeas to the ground in very late winter. I have several Barberries and Smokebush I cut back to 6 or so inches tall, too.

William, it's not invasive at all in my experience. It gets wider and taller and more beautiful, but doesn't form runners underground, etc. It's one of my most favorite plants and is so easy to grow.
Sunny

I wish Russian sage would spread. I like it very much. I guess I need to start pruning. How do you like the black elderberry? I have read somewhere it isn't that easy to grow. I have the native ones in a wild place because I like their fragrance. What I really want more of is deciduous azalea.

My russian sage spreads quite a bit by underground runners. Enough that I would be careful where I placed it. I got lots of runners in a bed of red oriental poppies....not a good thing.

I'not clear if William meant Butterfly Bush, or Rose of Sharon being invasive-- I know the R.S is very invasive, I had 3 big bushes in the back, now I have a full hedge all along the fence.
The biggest invasive I have is Wisteria, it spreads like Bermuda Grass