How and when do I cut my butterfly bush?

How and when do I cut my butterfly bush?

Leave old growth on the plant over the winter.  Cover the ground at the base of the plant with at least 3-4 inches of organic mulch.  The branches of the butterfly bush normally die back to the ground and new growth will emerge from the base of the plant in the spring.  We are in a marginal zone for butterfly bush and some years it is possible for the plant branches to survive a mild winter, I always leave the old growth on to see if any new growth begins to come back at the base of the plant and there is no evidence of new growth on the last years branches, the old branches should be cut back to ground level.

Deadheading the plant throughout the blooming season will encourage new blooms to appear.  Trim back the blooms to the top of the leaflet right below the dead bloom.

Butterfly bush is a beautiful addition to the garden.  It will provide continuous blooms from early summer through the fall with butterflies frequently visiting the plant.

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