Need advice on growing butterfly plants....

Amy
by Amy
Just planted two butterfly bushes (buddlei Davadii) (one regular size, one dwarf)in a new sunny garden bed and really want them to grow to their potential. I also have a butterfly bush on my patio in a half whiskey barrel planter that is really doing good. How often should I water and fertilize the two new plants? Any advice is much appreciated - this is my first attempt at maintaining a bed, versus container gardening, PS: I live in Houston, TX THANKS!
  2 answers
  • you do not have to do anything with butterfly bushes and you may want to make sure to contain them because in zone 7 or higher they can be invasive. The dwarf one may be easier to contain but here in VA zone 7 they are invasive and if they like the spot. To contain them they will send off suckers which you keep pruned or chopped and removed every spring/summer to keep them in check. Good luck and happy gardening.
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Apr 14, 2014
    You do need to keep them well watered until they get established, but after that butterfly bush requires little care, as Renee says. I recommend a good slow-release fertilizer like Oscmocote, but I generally do not fertilize plants until they are established and showing new growth on their own. Butterfly bush should be pruned back hard in late winter or early spring.