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Some questions about butterfly bush
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Posted by kellyray NoVA/7 (My Page) on Sat, Apr 8, 06 at 22:48
| OK...I'm a new gardener who planted a bunch of perrenials late last summer. I'm thrilled to see that some of them are returning this year! However, I'm beginning to think that I may have missed the boat on pruning a butterfly bush.
The plant wasn't too big to begin with (maybe 2-3' tall). I didn't touch the it in the fall, leaving it with a lot of bare twigs above ground. Now, I have some new leaves growing from a few branches, but most of the branches still look bare.
It sounds on the internet like a lot of people would have pruned their bushes by now. (Ooops.) One side of me thinks I should bring out the shears and go at the stuff that isn't putting out leaves, but the other side of me just isn't sure that's a great idea. All I know is that if the current growth is indicative of what it'll look like this summer, it's going to be a very, very sad looking plant.
Any suggestions as to what I should do to make it happy and healthy (and pretty)? Am I fated to have the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree of the butterfly bushes? I ask on this forum because the research I did suggests that how you care for this plant really depends on the climate. (But then again, what plant *isn't* climate-dependent?)
Thanks for the insight,
Kelly
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Some questions about butterfly bush
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| Go ahead and prune it, this weekend if possible. These things are tough. The rain and next weeks warm temperatures should get new growth started. You won't loose blooms. |
RE: Some questions about butterfly bush
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| I agree--go on and prune it. Each spring (usually in March) when I prune my butterfly bushes I feel like I'm doing a Very Bad Thing. I take them waaay down but they always wind up towering over me by the end of the summer! |
RE: Some questions about butterfly bush
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| Thanks! The bush got a trim yesterday. I'm anxious to see what happens! Kelly |
RE: Some questions about butterfly bush
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| Mine looks pretty bare too, as if most of the branches will not have buds. Is this normal? |
RE: Some questions about butterfly bush
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| I have a butterfly bush ("Black Knight") that I grew from a cutting from the original I planted at my previous house. I agree, that these are tough plants. I don't prune mine back hard like some do. I prefer mine to be on the larger side. Butterfly bushes sprout leaves from the center out, most likely the tips would have eventually sprouted, but pruning helps keep them looking good. I usually prune mine throughout the season, even while blooming, to keep the size and shape in check. This seems to cause no harm. I have even cut back whole branches in the middle of summer. The bush always seems to bloom its head off regardless. I've found that deadheading spent blooms is important to continue bloom and keep it looking good. Good luck with yours! |
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