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Posted: Mar/10/2009 9:36 AM PST
I have a butterfly bush that is about 9 years old. I usually prune it in the late winter with no problems. But, it is very woody on the bottom and I've notices that it does not seem to get much new growth from the base. Does anyone know if I can prune it fairly severely, cutting back the old wood to about 12 inches? I'm hoping to rejuvenate it and get a better shape. Has anyone had experience cutting back butterfly bush in this manner? Thank you. |
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Posted: Mar/10/2009 10:20 AM PST
I always prune mine back in spring (now) to about 6-8" high. Like you, I have noticed that the bottoms are very large and woody this year. They got so darn big last year (huge!) that they are almost like small tree trunks at the bottom. It was difficult to prune some of the bushes back to as low as I usually go, but I managed. I have already noticed new growth at the base since we have had warm weather lately. However, since that is about to change (again  ) the growth may slow for a week or two. After that, I expect them to burst forth as usual. Last year, the ones I had in full sun got to 8'tall and just as wide ~ they were WAY bigger than I really wanted or needed them to be, so I actually cut some of them back slightly in late summer. It was getting hard to move around them!
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Posted: Mar/10/2009 11:34 AM PST
Dsalkap The butterfly bush blooms on new wood (that produced in one season) and thus could (should?) be cut back to the ground each season unless you want to make a tree of it. I let mine (I have 3) go for two years and had stems nearly 2" in diameter. I used a pruning saw to bring them back down to start over. I notice already, buds forming shoots even though in our zone 8 the weather has been quite cold. Hope this helps. Fritz |
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Posted: Mar/10/2009 6:34 PM PST
http://www.gardenguides.com/how-to/tipstechniques/ flowers/butterflybush.asp "A note if you've never grown butterfly bushes: They look dead first thing in the spring and some branches die, but wait until May and June to see how it's done over the winter. If there are some dead branches, simply trim them off. In climates like Michigan and other Midwestern states it dies back, and growth only comes from the new wood, so you will have pruning to do in the spring." Mine die back to the ground because of the zone I am in. So I have to cut mine back to the ground. Otherwise, I would not trim to the ground. It seems nice to have a larger plant. |
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Posted: Mar/11/2009 3:35 AM PST
I prune mine back this time of year as far back as I can. I just haven't gotten to it yet. They are pretty forgiving if they are happy in the spot that you have chosen for them. Last year we took a chain saw to the big branches; otherwise, I have to use a pruning saw. Mine are really old. |
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Posted: Mar/11/2009 4:43 AM PST
Well, yeah ~ you would think it seems nice to have a larger plant but sometimes large is too large. When I lived in WI Z5a, mine were well-behaved and only got to around 3x3 or so. Here in Z6b what a difference! They got enormous, especially the ones in full sun. And they also self-seed all over in this zone so I have baby-butterflies everywhere. I have been sorely tempted to just leave one or two (I have eight) to do their own thing without pruning, but so far have not tried it. It's great to hear all the different responses ~ proves once again that there's not always one right answer 
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Posted: Mar/12/2009 6:48 AM PST
I got the butterfly bushes pruned yesterday. No need for a saw this time. I couldn't get on line this morning, so I read a little in my Carolina gardening book. They suggested giving it a second pruning in midsummer. I've never tried that, but if they get really big, I might just try it this year. That was news to me! |
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Posted: Mar/12/2009 7:55 AM PST
Yup ~ it was about mid-summer last year when I finally gave in and pruned mine some more. There was stuff growing around and underneath that wasn't getting a snowball's chance, they were SO big. Some of the blooms were over 2' long, no kidding. I swear they were getting out and walking around the yard at night. The mid-summer pruning bothered them not one witt (haha, pun intended  ).ETA ~ the mimosas are sprouting (inside). |
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Posted: Mar/14/2009 11:28 AM PST
Oh, gosh, thank you all for the information, it's very, very helpful! Although I'm in Arizona, I live at 5700 ft and we get quite cold at night here. It's been as low as the 20's this winter but is now finally warming up during the days. The nights are still cool. I'm going to give my butterfly bush a severe pruning by sawing out the old wood and leaving anything new. It will be fun to see how well it does and if I can get it back in better shape these next few years. Thanks again! Diane
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Posted: Mar/15/2009 5:33 AM PST
I think that the butterfly bushes are pretty forgiving as long as they have good sun. Great, Kee! I'm glad they are sprouting for you! I'll remember to give B bushes a midsummer haircut this year! |
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