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This article was co-authored by Lauren Kurtz. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.
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Buddleia (Buddleia davidii), also known as butterfly bush, is a shrub with multiple shoots that tends to grow and flower fast. The buddleia is a favorite of gardeners, due to its fragrant scent and its attractiveness to pollinators. As the buddleia grows quickly, you will have to prune it each spring before it begins to grow.
Steps
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:
Pruning Your Buddleia
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1Prune your buddleia in early spring. When you prune your buddleia matters greatly in terms of care. You should always prune your plant in early spring. Usually, March is the recommended time for pruning. However, when to prune truly depends on your region. Severe frost, present in late spring in some areas, can cause damage to a buddleia.
- Making a decision on when to prune your buddleia heavily depends on the weather in your area. As stated above, if you prune too soon early spring frost can harm the plant. However, waiting until later in the summer, or even the fall, can be deadly for the buddleia. If new growths do not harden before winter, they will be killed by the cold. This results in a dead plant the next spring.
- Keep an eye on the forecast, especially if you live in a colder area or an area with unpredictable weather patterns. If you see freezing temperatures or snow in your 10 day forecast, hold off on pruning. Wait until the weather's been consistently warm and above freezing for a few weeks before pruning.
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2Cut back hard in the spring. Buddleias bloom on new wood. Even if there is no sign of rot or damage to existing branches, cut all of the branches back to the ground in early spring. This will stimulate blooming and growth from your buddleia during the flowering season.
- Buddleias grow in bunches of stems sprouting from the same patch of ground. You prune the plant by cutting these stems downward towards the ground.
- Stems should be at least a foot tall. Stop pruning once your stems are about a foot in length. Trimming any shorter could cause damage to the plant.
- When you finish pruning your buddleia, it should look somewhat like a stag's antlers. Don't be alarmed by how much you cut from the plant. Such intense pruning is what helps the buddleia grow new flowers when the rainy season passes.
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3Remove older branches. Buddleias can become overcrowded if too many branches sprout. If your buddleia bush looks crowded, remove older branches completely rather than just trimming them down.[1]
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4Deadhead spent blooms throughout the flowering season. The main pruning should be done in spring. The buddleia flowers in multiple places. Both main stems and side shoots that grow from main stems may flower. When seeking out dead flowers, look in all these places.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:
Caring for the Plant Afterwards
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1Spread mulch in early spring. Spread mulch or compost around the stump of your buddleia plant, as this will help it retain moisture and fight off unwanted weeds. Spread about 6 inches of mulch or compost along the stumps of the plant.
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2Plant new buddleias 5 to 10 feet away from existing plants. You may decide you want to plant more buddleias. You should keep the new plants 5 to 10 feet away from existing plants to make sure all your plants have adequate space to grow.
- Buddleias may expand as they grow, branching out new stems. Therefore, it's vital you make sure the plants have the space necessary to thrive.
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3Water appropriately. Buddleias need to be watered. The amount of water they need depends on the season. Young buddleias that are still growing should be watered thoroughly.
- Buddleias do tolerate drought well. However, prolonged dry soil can be a problem for the plants. Therefore, regular watering is important in dry months.[4]
- Water the soil around the buddleia thoroughly so the soil is moist without being over-saturated. Before a buddleia blooms, it will need more watering.[5] Water the buddleia at least once a week before it blooms. You may want to water twice a week or more if you live in an area experiencing a drought or very hot temperatures.[6]
- Once a buddleia is full grown, it requires less watering.[7] However, check the soil surrounding the plant regularly to make sure it's damp. If it feels dry, water the soil until it moistens slightly.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionDo you cut off dead flowers on a butterfly bush?
Lauren KurtzLauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.
Professional GardenerThe bloom time will be extended if you deadhead the dead flowers, so it's a good idea to remove them. -
QuestionDo butterfly bushes come back?Lauren KurtzLauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.
Professional GardenerYes, in appropriate climates a butterfly bush will come back year after year. If the conditions are not ideal, though, they may not come back. -
QuestionCan I prune my buddleia at the end of May?Lauren KurtzLauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.
Professional GardenerThe end of May is not a good time to prune your buddleja. Cut back 6 to 12 inches from the ground in the early spring.
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References
- ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/techniques/pruning_pruneshrubs1.shtml
- ↑ http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/animalsAndPlants/noxious-weeds/weed-identification/butterfly-bush.aspx
- ↑ http://butterflywebsite.com/articles/buddleia-butterfly-bush.cfm
- ↑ http://www.thegardenhelper.com/buddleia.htm
- ↑ http://www.pwfourstar.com/Culture-Guide-2016/2016-Shrub-Culture/Buddleia.pdf
- ↑ http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/401/black-knight-butterfly-bush/
- ↑ http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/401/black-knight-butterfly-bush/
About This Article
Lauren Kurtz
Professional Gardener
This article was co-authored by Lauren Kurtz. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014. This article has been viewed 312,559 times.
Co-authors: 8
Updated: November 13, 2022
Views: 312,559
Categories: Planting and Growing
Article SummaryX
Prune your buddleia in early spring by cutting back all the branches to the ground. Stop pruning once your stems are about 1 foot in length to avoid harming the plant. Since buddleias can become overcrowded if too many branches sprout, remove older branches completely. Then, throughout the flowering season, deadhead spent blooms. For tips on how to care for your buddleias after you prune it, keep reading our Horticulturist’s advice!
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