Always wanted one. Now have three. This one by the driveway needs trellising and always fights with whatever we trellis him with. This should tame him at least for this year.
Bees and butterflies LOVE this plant. In my recent propagation mania, I clipped some limbs and planted them with rooting hormone, they are sprouting! You can't tell, but there is a smaller butterfly bush directly to the left of this big mama. Think I can transplant it now?
A trellised butterfly bush, I love it! I'm going to show this post to mine in the hopes that it will be shamed into being more upright. It's like a kid who doesn't want to get out of bed. (And Melissa I would not attempt transplanting Big Mama right now while she is in the full flush of growth. I would do it late next winter when you cut her back well.)
Did not want to transplant Big Mama, but the little sibling to her left who goes without it seems. So, its true this bush should be cut back severly in the fall?. Have heard so many opposing views about this even before Big Mama came to live here with her rambunctuous self.
I don't cut mine back in the winter...after they finish a set of blooms I just clip the end of the stem to encourage more flowers, if one or two limbs get "unruly" I may clip them to a manageable level, but other than that I just water and feed it 1/2 of a Miracle grow tree stake in the spring...
I actually saw one that was a tree, or tree like anyway...many (20) or so years ago on a route I used to drive the kids to school...It was glorious!!!!
I just bought a "Lo & Behold Blue Chip" butterfly bush. They grow 24-36" tall, 24-36" wide. *Continuous blooming fragrant blue flowers from mid summer to frost. *Dwarf. Non-invasive and does not require,deadheading.
I am excited about this one. I love butterfly bushes, but they get so unruly and take up so much space, this seems like a perfect solution. You can check it out at www.provenwinners.com (Buddleia x 'Blue Chip" USPP19991 CPBRAF)
I really favor trimming them in late winter or early spring. Pruning tells the plant to put out a flush of new growth, and you do not give it that message just as winter is setting in.
Cuttings from the butterfly bush? You can transplant them when they start to show a good root system. You could probably cut the big one back by three-quarters, but wait until late winter to do so. Just before it starts to push out new leaves would be optimal.
Melissa - it is beautiful and I know it brings your much more joy and happiness than it does aggravation - just like kids!!!
I am excited about this one. I love butterfly bushes, but they get so unruly and take up so much space, this seems like a perfect solution. You can check it out at www.provenwinners.com (Buddleia x 'Blue Chip" USPP19991 CPBRAF)