Growing a Butterfly Bush

Butterfly bushes are wonderful, large bushes with all different colors of flowers. If you buy one from a garden center (in a pot), you will know what you'll get for flowers. Be aware that they get very big (at least in California they do). They like full sun, once established, they don't need much water at all. They will attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and bumble bees. I prune mine "hard" every winter, down to knee-high, so they don't get totally out of hand. The one winter I did not prune, they reached 15 feet tall! I have a tri-color (white, lilac, deep purple) and a yellow bush, and love them. They transplant fairly well, and will spread via roots and seeds.

Source: My yard...

By Eileen from Elk Grove, CA

Botanical Name:

Buddleja davidii

Life Cycle:

perennial shrub

Planting Time:

spring or fall

Height:

4' to 10'

Exposure:

full sun

Soil:

rich, moist, well-drained soil; drainage is a must

Hardiness:

zones 5 to 9

Bloom Time:

late spring to early summer

Flower:

pink, fuchsia, light blue, lavender flowers on spikes

Foliage:

green

Propagation:

seeds, semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested Use:

shrub (south of zone 6 ) or perennial (northern zones) for foundation plantings, butterfly gardens or backdrops for beds and borders

Growing Hints:

Start indoors from seeds in mid to late winter, purchase small potted plants (they grow fast), or start from semi-hardwood cuttings in early spring or fall. Plants make flowers on new stems so cut them back hard each spring (to the ground in the North and to a foot above ground in the South).

Interesting Facts:

For continuous flowers all summer, trim spent flower clusters off just above a set of leaves and plants will send out two new spikes to replace the one you cut off. As they name suggests, the Butterfly Bush is very attractive to butterflies.

By Ellen Brown