How to Grow and Care for a Butterfly Bush

The fragrant, cone-shaped blooms of a butterfly bush look spectacular in the garden. Moreover, the butterfly bush plant’s nectar is a favorite of butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and other beneficial insects.

It is a hardy shrub that is always popular in a summer garden or landscape. And, if you’re wondering when to prune, we have the answers. Here we cover growing and caring for a butterfly bush.

Caring for a Butterfly Bush (Buddleia)

Bloom Colors

A butterfly bush will commonly have purple blooms. Although the flowers may be pink, red, white, orange, blue, yellow, magenta, or maroon, depending on the variety of butterfly bushes. Bi-color varieties of these plants are available as well.

Here’s a sampling of butterfly bush varieties sold at plant nurseries and home and garden centers.

• White profusion (white blooms)
• Pink delight (light to medium pink blooms)
• Honeycomb (golden yellow blooms)
• Sky blue (medium purple to lavender blooms)
• Hot raspberry (hot pink blooms)

Best Planting Zones

A butterfly bush grows best in planting zones 5 to 9. During winter, butterfly bushes planted in warmer zones may be evergreen, while those in colder zones will die each year and grow again in spring.

Light Requirements

When planting these flowers, they require full sun but prefer some afternoon shade when grown in warmer climates.

Soil

The eye-catching butterfly bush grows well in almost any soil, including dry soil.

Water

It prefers moist, well-draining soil. Water the plant slowly and deeply so moisture travels down to the root zone during dry spells.

Fertilization

Only a bush grown in poor soil will require feeding. To fertilize, apply a balanced granular fertilizer underneath the shrub and toss on a 2-inch layer of compost to protect plant roots.

Bloom Time

It blooms throughout the spring and summer months.

Plant Location

A butterfly bush typically grows from 6 to 12 ft. tall and 4 to 15 ft. wide—plant in a spot with plenty of space for these plants to grow to full size. Check the plant tag to note your particular variety’s maximum height and spread.

When should I prune?

These hardy plants require pruning to keep them contained in the garden as they can grow up to 12 ft. high in southern climates.

In general, it’s best to prune when these plants are dormant. Butterfly bushes respond well to pruning. It may also be pruned in spring, after the last frost date.

Trim any broken, dead, or diseased branches. Some gardeners prefer to cut the shrub back to one to two feet above the ground to control plant growth.

Prune spent flower clusters during spring and summer. If not pruned, mature seeds will fall from the plant and sprout. This will leave weedy young plants sprinkled throughout your garden. Any new plants should be removed from the roots and tossed in the trash.

Is a butterfly bush considered an invasive species?

Yes. If you have an established plant, there are ways to control the plant’s spreading habit. Remove flower heads before they have a chance to disperse the seed. Do not dispose of flower heads or branches in natural areas or compost piles; they may sprout.

Pick up and dispose of any trimmed branches or clippings left on the ground.

Some growers offer varieties that are seedless and non-invasive so that you can enjoy them without worry.

Butterfly bush from the Lo & Behold® series and the “Miss” varieties sold by Proven Winners® are non-invasive cultivars.

Did you know? Hummingbirds are especially attracted to red-flowering butterfly bush varieties. Red blooming varieties include ‘royal red’ and ‘miss molly.’