Are butterfly bushes late starters in the spring?

Carole Stephens
by Carole Stephens



  4 answers
  • Mkl Mkl on May 26, 2018

    Generally not. However this winter'a erratic weather played havoc on many of my shrubs/bushes. I lost all my rosemary, some of it over 10 years old, and have frost damaged branches on hydrangeas, and roses. My both of my butterfly bushes have also died. I'm not sure where you live but I'm guessing that if you do not see anything by now then the butterfly bush did not survive.

  • Landsharkinnc Landsharkinnc on May 26, 2018

    https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/butterfly-bush/butterfly-bush-care.htm a lot of the country had an unusually cold winter and lost or had extensive damage to their plants ... it also may depend on the variety of plant -

  • Fbgirl1961 Fbgirl1961 on May 28, 2018

    I find that my butterfly bushes don't really get going until I cut down last years branches. My imagination?

  • Kay Lehmann Kay Lehmann on Jun 13, 2018

    We live in SW Michigan, get lots of cold weather and snow. So, I cut down my butterfly bushes (3 of them) in late spring (April/May) to about 8-10". They start sending out shoots of green 2-4 weeks later. Right now, mine are about 3' tall and getting nice and green. Works every year-oh, and mine reach 5-7' tall, and full of flowers! They are about 10 years old now, and thriving.

    • Carole Stephens Carole Stephens on Jun 13, 2018

      Thank you, I think we cut ours back too late last year. My new bushes didn't make it either though.