skip to main content

Upstate New York

Butterfly Bush

wantoretire_did

16 years ago

Well, I spent this chilly sunny day cutting back most of everything, but I have a question about the butterfly bush. It is about 5 ft. tall and doing great. I'm thinking it is to stay as is until spring; is that correct? What about a heavy snow? Would it spread it and break it?

It was small last year and not a problem.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

philomena
16 years ago
Yes, butterfly bushes should be pruned back in the spring, sometime around when the first buds are forming at the base of the plant - late March to early April, depending on how the temps are. Mine is around 6 feet or so, and I haven't had a problem with the branches breaking off or anything in the snow - looks really pretty in winter !
paulallen
16 years ago
My older buddleia grow to seven and eight feet tall. They have never been impacted by snow on the branches; the branches are not stiff enough to break. Enjoy the Spring pruning; it's exciting because the flowers follow by early July. Enjoy.
Related Professionals
Cary Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Forest Park Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Allentown Landscape Contractors · Canby Landscape Contractors · East Lake-Orient Park Landscape Contractors · Oxnard Landscape Contractors · San Pablo Landscape Contractors · Catonsville General Contractors · Centereach General Contractors · Cheney General Contractors · Hillsboro General Contractors · Jamestown General Contractors · Mountain View General Contractors · Olney General Contractors · Security-Widefield General Contractors
wantoretire_did
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks - I'll enjoy the height outside the living room window for the winter and cut back in the spring.

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Plants That Beat Butterfly Bush for the Wildlife Draw

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

It's invasive, a nonnative and a poor insect magnet. Check out these better alternatives to butterfly bush in the garden

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES Be a Butterfly Savior — Garden for the Monarchs

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Keep hope, beauty and kindness alive in the landscape by providing a refuge for these threatened enchanters

FLOWERS Great Design Plant: Bush Anemone

By Annie Thornton

Breathe in this shrub's sweet perfume while you're admiring its petite white flowers and the butterflies it brings

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Northern Bush Honeysuckle, a Bronze Beauty

It helps control erosion and takes sun or shade. The butterflies love it. But the best part of this shrub may be the vivid foliage

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES Great Design Plant: Coyote Bush

By Annie Thornton

Remarkably resilient, this coast-happy shrub attracts native wildlife — and its leaves have an unusual attribute

FALL GARDENING What Monarch Butterflies Taught Me About Garden Design

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Thinking like a butterfly leads to fresh perspectives in the garden and in life

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES Butterfly Gardening: Delight the Eyes With Living Sculptures

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Surprise and thrill with a garden that attracts magical winged creatures, bringing color, movement and life

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Steps to Creating Your Butterfly Garden

By Debbie Ballentine

Encourage these fanciful winged beauties to visit your garden while helping restore their fragmented habitat

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES 7 Native Wildflowers to Make You an Awesome Butterfly Host

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Offer the leaves of these and you’ll get more butterflies than with flower nectar alone

GARDENING GUIDES 20 Favorite Flowers for Butterflies and Bouquets

By Marianne Lipanovich

Discover perennials and annuals that do double duty as butterfly magnets and versatile cut flowers

Sponsored

Peabody Landscape Group

8 Reviews

Franklin County's Reliable Landscape Design & Contracting

More Discussions

21k for kitchen cabinets (not including installation) reasonable?

74

Pls Help. Laying Asphault over Concrete walkway?

5