When do butterfly bushes bloom

Butterfly Bush Care: When Do Butterfly Bushes Bloom?

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Learn when butterfly bushes bloom and how to prune and take care of a butterfly bush, plus why some varieties are not appropriate for every garden.

Courtesy Janine BurkeEastern tiger swallowtail on butterfly bush

Butterfly Bush Care: Protection in Winter

“I have difficulty overwintering butterfly bush (Buddleia) and end up replanting most of them each year,” says Deanna Frautschi of Bloomington, Illinois. “Any tips for better success?”

For butterfly bush care, patience is the key. Allow your plants to stand over winter to increase their winter hardiness (you’ll enjoy the winter interest, too). If you choose to add some winter mulch, wait until the soil freezes before covering the base of the plant with evergreen boughs or straw. Consider enclosing the mulched plant with a cylinder of hardware cloth to keep the rabbits and voles out. In late winter or early spring, cut the plants back to 4 to 6 inches above the ground. Then wait.

“How can I keep butterfly bushes alive through winter in Zone 6a? I have lost one per year for the past four years,” asks Connie Mason Etter of Martinsville, Indiana

Keep trying! I am a Zone 5a gardener and have had success with butterfly bushes, both in a small city lot and now in a more brutal, open rural location. Grow these plants in a sunny, well-draining spot. Avoid late-season fertilization because it promotes growth that is likely to be winter killed. Leave the plants standing to increase hardiness and provide winter interest. Cut them back to 4 to 6 inches above the ground in late winter or early spring, before growth begins. Then be patient. Mine have sprouted as late as mid-July after an extremely cold winter and cool spring. The bushes quickly reached full size and were covered with blooms and butterflies by early August. Well worth the wait!

Read more: 8 super fragrant flowers pollinators love

When Do Butterfly Bushes Bloom?

After a harsh winter or cool spring, you may not see signs of interest until June or even early July. But if the roots survived, they will quickly generate new growth and blooms for the butterflies to enjoy from August until frost. Check out the top flowering shrubs that birds and butterflies love.

Tip: Butterfly bush is invasive in some areas, such as the Pacific Northwest. Avoid growing it, or try planting seedless varieties like Lo and Behold Lilac Chip.

Find more alternatives to invasive shrubs.

Butterfly Bush Care - How To Care For A Butterfly Bush

Home › Ornamental Gardens › Shrubs › Butterfly Bush

Butterfly Bush

By: Jackie Carroll

Image by relish5

Butterfly bushes (Buddleia davidii) are grown for their long panicles of colorful flowers and their ability to attract butterflies and beneficial insects. They bloom in spring and summer, but the naturally attractive shape of the shrub and evergreen foliage keep the bush interesting, even when it is not in bloom.

These tough plants tolerate a variety of conditions and are hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. Find out more about butterfly bush planting and care.

Butterfly Bush Planting

Planting a butterfly bush in an optimum location minimizes the time you’ll spend on maintenance. Choose a sunny or partly shaded area where the soil is well-drained. Soil that is constantly wet encourages rot. When planted in good quality garden soil, a butterfly bush rarely needs fertilizer.

Give your butterfly bush plenty of room. The plant tag will tell you the mature size of the cultivar you have chosen. Although butterfly bushes tolerate severe pruning to maintain a smaller size, you can reduce the time you’ll spend pruning by planting it in a location with plenty of room for the plant to develop its natural size and shape. Butterfly bushes grow from 6 to 12 feet (2-4 m.) tall with a spread of 4 to 15 feet (1-4.5 m.).

NOTE: Butterfly bush is considered an invasive plant in many regions. Check with your local extension office prior to planting to ensure that the plant is permitted in your area.

How to Care for a Butterfly Bush

Butterfly bush care is easy. Water the shrub slowly and deeply during prolonged dry spells so that the soil absorbs the water deep into the root zone.

The plants don’t need fertilization unless grown in poor soil. Fertilize with a 2 inch (5 cm.) layer of compost over the root zone or scratch in some general-purpose fertilizer if you need to enrich the soil. Cover the root zone with a 2 to 4 inch (5-10 cm.) layer of mulch. This is particularly important in cold climates where the roots need winter protection.

The most labor-intensive part of caring for butterfly bushes is deadheading. In spring and summer, remove the spent flower clusters promptly. Seed pods develop when the flower clusters are left on the plant. When the pods mature and release their seeds, weedy young plants emerge. The seedlings should be removed as soon as possible.

Young shrubs that are cut off at ground level may re-emerge, so remove the roots along with the top growth. Don’t be tempted to transplant the seedlings into other parts of the garden. Butterfly bushes are usually hybrids, and the offspring probably won’t be as attractive as the parent plant.

Problems with Butterfly Bushes

Problems with butterfly bushes include root rot and the occasional caterpillar. Planting the shrub in well-drained soil usually eliminates the chances of root rot. The symptoms are yellowing leaves, and in severe cases, twig or stem dieback.

Any time you grow a plant that attracts butterflies, you can expect caterpillars. In most cases the damage is minimal and you will have to stand close to the shrub to notice it. It’s best to leave the caterpillars alone unless their feeding activity does substantial damage to the shrub.

Japanese beetles sometimes feed on butterfly bushes. Using insecticides to control Japanese beetles is usually ineffective, and more likely to destroy the abundance of beneficial insects attracted to the shrub than the beetles. Use traps and handpick the insects, and treat the lawn for grubs, which are the larval form of Japanese beetles.

This article was last updated on 11/15/21

Buddleja Davidii, flowering shrub for butterflies in the garden, photo

Buddleja Davidii are beautiful deciduous shrubs with large, fragrant, colorful buds that are very attractive to butterflies. Blooming buddleia is very decorative, look at the photo below and you will see for yourself. This is one of the reasons for the growing popularity of the summer lilac, as it is also called, in our gardens. In addition, David's buddleia is growing rapidly, requiring little attention. The buddleia family is diverse, with more than 100 varieties. The description of some suggests that these are small and large shrubs, woody vines, even tall trees. Buddleya David grows in the tropics, subtropics of Asia, Africa, America. Some species are found in mountains, semi-deserts, even deserts.

Buddlaya David, photo and description

Buddlaya David, landing and care in open ground

Campaign of Buddlaya David

Buddlaya David from the seeds

Buddlaya David, reviews

Buddlaya David, photo and description of

Different types of ornamental shrub David's buddleia grow and bloom in different ways. Some flowers bloom on the shoots of the current year, others - in the spring, before the leaves appear, only a few bloom from early spring to late autumn.

Small buddleia flowers are collected in panicles or inflorescences similar to large spikelets. It depends on the variety what color they will be - yellow, orange, lilac, white or purple-red.

David's Buddleia, flower photo:

All types of this beautifully flowering shrub belong to heat-loving plants. But only David's buddley managed to acclimatize not only in the south, but also in our middle latitudes. This is a tall, up to 1.5-2 m, sprawling shrub with oblong leaves. The leaves are dark green above, light green below. The stem is also pubescent.

Flower clusters are shaped like blossoming lilacs. But the size of the inflorescences of David's buddleia is somewhat smaller. With abundant flowering, the bush looks very impressive. To achieve this, it must be cut correctly, otherwise rare inflorescences will flaunt at the ends of bare branches.

Buddley is pollinated by insects, mainly butterflies. That is why the name of the flower is translated as "butterfly bush".

It would seem that a flowering bush should attract bees, but a narrow tube of a flower leads to the nectar, accessible only to a thin, long proboscis of a butterfly.

David's Buddleia, planting and care in the open field

First-year seedling

We recommend planting Buddleia under the window or at the porch of the house. You will fully appreciate the aroma of flowers throughout the summer. He is pleasant but not intrusive.

Buddley loves the sun, loose earth with the addition of lime and humus, rare but plentiful watering. Feed the bush with ashes, mineral fertilizers 3-4 times over the summer. Top dressing is especially useful before flowering (July-September).

From May-June, a shrub that attracts butterflies begins to grow rapidly, reaching a height of 30-50 cm by the end of summer. The bush blooms in the third, sometimes in the second year.

It should be remembered that David's buddleia does not tolerate being wrapped in a film for the winter, since during thaws condensation forms under the film, i.e. high humidity, which can kill the plant.

David's buddleia pruning

Cut off all branches in autumn, leaving 3-5 cm stumps. The stems freeze in winter, but grow back in spring. Young plants must be covered with peat (15-20 cm) or spruce branches.

By the way, when pruning faded flowers, do not throw them near the bush. Under favorable conditions, such as damp soil or after rain, they can take root. However, it's up to you! After all, rooted cuttings can be presented to gardening friends!

David's buddleia from seeds

The best time for propagation by seeds of the "butterfly bush" is the last days of February - the beginning of March. Prepare a special light potting soil consisting of 1/3 garden soil, 1/3 sand and 1/3 manure. David's buddley seeds are sown on a moist soil surface, lightly sprinkled with earth on top and covered with a film. Seeds germinate in 3-4 weeks. After the threat of spring frosts has passed, the seedlings are planted in open ground, at a distance of 50-70 cm from each other. Seedlings grown from seeds will begin to bloom in the second year of life.

Pink Delight

David's Buddleia is especially good on the lawn when there are no other plants nearby.

Buddleya David, reviews

I was very struck that from a seed planted in spring, this year by autumn I had a chic bush, about a meter tall and well sprawling.

Aks

http://forum-flower.ru/showthread.php?t=43

Buddleya David has been growing for the fifth year already. At first they sheltered, warmed, cried in the spring, thinking that she had died ... But ... For the fifth year now, she has been pleasing us. One difficulty: every winter, all the upper shoots froze and the growth of new ones began from the base. It happens late. So in June - only a bare place. I came up with and planted a lawn around the buddley. A green area on which branches first grow, which turn into a bush and bloom. I will not refuse Buddley. Graceful, thin, beautiful.

Dima Danilov, Moscow

https://www.forumhouse.ru/threads/132769/

I drove these bushes all over the site until I found a suitable place. This is the sunny side near the fence, ventilated and not shaded. During the summer, the bush grows 1.5-2.0 m, thereby blocking the view from the street. In the spring I feed with Kemer fertilizer. But the main top dressing is summer, since the bushes bloom all the same late. This is an infusion of cut grass once every two weeks. They probably like it, since they are so grateful. I don’t cut it in the fall, but only pour 2 buckets of earth or rotted manure (what is) under the root. And in February-March, I go to the dacha and cut it to the level of snow. It is not comfortable to climb in the snow, but it is recommended by experts and I follow their advice. Until they failed. And it’s also very beautiful to plant different colors in one planting hole.

Natasha1960

https://forum.tvoysad.ru/viewtopic.php?t=5716&start=75

I don’t remember when, maybe five years, maybe less, I first sowed Buddley seeds. I really wanted indescribable beauty. All the seeds sprouted, and there were 150 of them. Naturally, she dived about a dozen, the rest were scrapped, her seeds were like dust, she didn’t pour out too much, and I didn’t know their germination. In general, I planted in the spring. By autumn, bushes grew taller than me (170), and bloomed with white and blue inflorescences. Everyone in the area was attracted to butterflies. The beauty! Before sowing, I already knew from read sources that it freezes to the level of the soil, no matter how we cover it. Therefore, in the fall, I cut it off, leaving small stumps. Sprinkled with peat and everything! She wakes up very late in the spring. We must be patient. I have she began to drive shoots in early June. But it is growing very fast.

Les

https://forum.prihoz.ru/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=6483

I once stayed with a school friend in the Krasnodar Territory. It was there that I saw David's buddley for the first time. Of course, at first I thought that these were new varieties of lilacs, but a friend suggested that this was a buddleia. Her drooping spike-shaped inflorescences with a honey aroma are simply incomparable. I also noticed that a lot of beautiful butterflies were constantly fluttering over the bushes. It turned out that the buddleia was pollinated by them. Several varieties grew in the garden, there were white, lilac, pale and deep pink flowers. A friend suggested that I take a couple of young bushes, but I was afraid that they would freeze. It turns out to be wrong.

Ulyana

http://www.forumdacha.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2851

Budley David, butterfly bush - cultivation, varieties, care

Budley David - extremely beautiful shrub , which is relatively easy to grow and care for. It pleases with magnificent flowers of purple and pink shades, which often attract butterflies. Hence the name "butterfly bush". Learn more about Budley Care Secrets and discover the most interesting varieties of buddles David . Here's everything you need to know about growing buddles!

Buddleja David - Buddleja davidii

The genus budleja includes about 100 species of shrubs and even small trees, growing mainly in warm regions of East Asia, South America and South Africa. In our country, with their varieties, only 2 species are grown, the most popular of which is David's Buddleia ( Buddleja davidii ).

Budleya David - butterfly bush

David's Budleja occurs naturally in China. This is a fast growing shrub up to 3-4 m tall with broad branches . Under the weight of the inflorescences, the shoots bend in an arcuate manner. The leaves are ovate-lanceolate, dark green on the underside with a whitish-tomentose coat. Most of the leaves fall in autumn.

Buddle flowers come in a wide variety of colors, mostly purple and pink . The shape resembles the flowers of common lilac (lilac among the people). The flowers are collected in long inflorescences, on the tops of annual (this year) shoots. A characteristic feature of buddle flowers is their aroma - very sweet and intense. Because of their smell, butterflies live in Budley flowers, which collect nectar from them. Hence the other name butterfly bush .

Budley blooms from July to the end of October . It is worth knowing that young shrubs bloom later than older ones, but retain their flowers longer. David's Budley is suitable for planting both in groups and singly.

Why doesn't the budlea bloom?

David's Budleya is a beautiful shrub with fragrant flowers, around which butterflies love to fly. And although the budley usually blooms profusely, sometimes mistakes in its cultivation and care can cause the absence of these flowers. Learn about the 4 most common reasons why buddles don't bloom. More...

David's budley - growing and care

budley is best grown in well-drained, fairly fertile and moderately moist soil. Soil pH should be neutral or alkaline. Reacts positively to the content of calcium carbonate in the soil. Prefers warm and sunny places, as well as shelter from the winds. That is why it grows well near the southern walls of houses.

David's budley is sensitive to frost, and should be covered tightly before winter. It does well in urban environments as it is immune to air pollution. So that David's bud is an excellent plant for the city garden .

Planting David's buds

We plant David's bud in spring. It is best to plant annual or biennial plants. The older ones do not get along well, because the root system is usually damaged in those dug out of the nursery. So better just buy budley seedlings in containers, where you can be sure that the root system is intact. We plant the plant at the same depth to which it grew in the container, and mulch the soil under it.

Budleja Dawida - butterflies often sit on Budleja flowers.

Care of David's budley

In summer, the soil under the bushes should be loosened shallowly, as the plant is sensitive to lack of air. Mulching the soil around the buddles with a thin layer of mulching material also has a positive effect. You can use mulching materials such as pine bark, deoxidized peat, leaves or sawdust. This will prevent soil contamination and heat loss.

Watering is important and in buddle care . Don't forget to water the plants during dry spells, this will help keep the flowers longer and more abundant. After flowering, cut off the inflorescences and feed the plant with a complex fertilizer for flowering plants.

As mentioned earlier, Buddleia is sensitive to frost and should be well covered for winter by covering the lower shoots with leaves or a compost clod and the whole plant with white agrotextile. In warm and protected places, it is enough to protect only the root ball and the base of the plant by making a mound. If the shoots freeze, cut them off in the spring, leaving only healthy ones. Budley is recovering very quickly .

Trimming David's buds

Trim buds in spring, but only when we are sure that there will be no more severe frosts. It is even worth setting aside the cutting a little so as not to expose the plant to frost. In practice, pruning of buds is usually carried out in the second half of March or April. Trim the butterfly bush to half its height but not less than 1 m from the ground. Very old shoots are cut 10 cm above the ground, young shoots will grow out of them very quickly.

David

The most beautiful David buddle varieties are:

Black Night - a budle variety with very dark purple, almost black flowers, reaching 2-3 meters in height.

Empire Blue - This cultivar has purplish blue flowers.