A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2002 Butterfly Bush

Hello everyone.. I'm new here but really could use some advice.. I just got my very first butterfly bush and need to know what kind of care I give it for this winter. I mean late this fall is this something that needs to be cut back or what?? It is beautiful and I want to keep it alive.. Any help would be appreciated..

Hi,Don't cut it back this fall. Being as far North as you are, you might want to mulch the roots so they don't freeze. Then, when it warms up in the spring, uncover it. When you see new shoots coming up, then its time to cut it back. You could let it alone for a year if you want, just to see how big it gets. I cut mine back. They are pretty fast growers. Good Luck!!

Hi Sunshine! I got my Butterfly bush last summer and had to wait until it cooled down to plant it in the ground. The lady at the nursery told me to snip off the spent blooms to insure more growth through the growing season and just as the other reply said leave it alone until the next spring.As the new growth comes on just trim off the brown dead branches but if you see even a bit of green leave it alone.There might be life coming off of the brown dead looking spots. Trim down to that point but no further. I LOVE my Butterfly plant and so have the butterflies this year. Good Luck and Happy Gardening!

Butterfly Bushes are great. The first year I planted mine I left it alone, as the fellow gardeners have said. The next year I cut it to the ground in early spring and it grew to approx. 10 ft. Every year I cut it down and it grows more. I love them. This year I planted a varigated leaved variety called harlequin. I can't wait to see what it looks like next year. Good luck