How To Grow Butterfly Bush | American Meadows (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take for a butterfly bush to grow to full size? ›

Butterfly bush is known for its rapid growth, up to two feet in height per year or more. It can reach its mature size in just one or two growing seasons.

You can also plant butterfly bushes in a mixed-shrub border with other shrubs, such as native Elderberry, colorful Hydrangeas, or other unique shrubs to add color and interest in summer and fall.

Butterfly bushes grow and spread aggressively, often out-competing native plants. This can disrupt local ecosystems and decrease food and habitat availability for beneficial insects and other wildlife.

But without regular pruning, butterfly bushes can become sparse, and flowering can diminish, leaving next to nothing for pollinators. So keep pruning to keep the butterflies coming to your garden for years to come!

Butterfly bushes are full sun plants. That means they should get at least six hours of bright sun each day. It doesn't need to come all at once – it can be in chunks throughout the day. In very hot climates, a bit of afternoon shade is permissible.

Reproduction: Each flower produces a capsule containing many small seeds. Seeds are dispersed by wind and water. Butterfly bushes do not spread vegetatively. Conditions that favor growth: Establishes in sunny, dry, disturbed sites with well-drained soils.

Separate sections of roots with some shoots and replant them in a similar location in compost amended soil. Butterfly Bushes can also be propagated by stem cuttings. In late spring and early summer take a 4- to 6-inch long cutting of a new stem once the stem is sturdy enough to not bend.

Typically, a butterfly bush will live about 10 years. You may find some plants that live longer than that, but it's a rare case. Proper care of a butterfly bush will help it live longer and thrive in your garden.

You should expect a continuous bloom on Pugsters from summer to fall; and while deadheading doesn't hurt, it isn't requires with this series. It grows quickly in hot heat and sunny spots. The Pugster series is known for its' sturdy stems and better winter hardiness than other dwarf butterfly bushes.

A single butterfly bush flower can produce 40,000 seeds and each bush is filled with many flowers. In these natural areas, the butterfly bush becomes an invasive plant. It's considered a noxious weed in some regions because it can out-compete native plants and destroy habitat.

How do I keep my butterfly bush blooming all summer? ›

Give your butterfly bush regular deep watering based on weather (more in peak heat or drought, for example) and prune it each spring. Assuming sun, rain, and pruning all come together, the bush should bloom fully and continuously throughout summer.

Butterfly bush is best planted in the spring or fall. If planting in fall, make sure to get them in the ground well before first frost in order to develop a good root system before colder temperatures set in.

Do butterfly bushes spread? Yes, they do. The wild species Buddleia davidii spreads rapidly, invading riverbanks, reforested areas, and open fields. It forms thick, shrubby thickets that preclude the development of other native species such as willow.