Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
Butterfly Bush Care & Maintenance
Butterfly Bush Care & Maintenance. The butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii), a shrub native to China and Japan, produces clusters of colorful flowers that attract butterflies. Hardy in USDA zones 5 through 10, the butterfly bush thrives in most temperate climates with only minimal care and maintenance.
The butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii), a shrub native to China and Japan, produces clusters of colorful flowers that attract butterflies. Hardy in USDA zones 5 through 10, the butterfly bush thrives in most temperate climates with only minimal care and maintenance.
Site and Soil
Butterfly bushes prefer well-drained, average soil. Once established, the shrubs perform best in dry conditions; wet soil may kill the roots. Butterfly bushes thrive in full sun, although they can tolerate some partial shade.
Moisture
Applying 1 inch of water about once a week provides a newly planted butterfly bush with adequate moisture. After the first two months of growth, the shrub only requires supplemental watering in summer when rainfall is less than 1 inch a week. It needs no additional water during spring, fall or winter.
Feeding and Mulching
A butterfly bush planted in average garden soil does not typically require fertilization. In poor soil, however, the shrub benefits from a yearly feeding in spring with an all-purpose fertilizer. A 2- to 4-inch layer of organic mulch helps protect the bush from cold temperatures and increases the soil's moisture retention.
Pruning
A butterfly bush produces flowers on new wood, which means more blooms appear if the shrub receives a severe pruning to encourage new growth. Pruning back the bush to within 3 to 4 inches of the ground in early spring yields the best results.
