Butterfly Bushes Care

Before planting the shrub be sure to till the soil properly. Discover why buddleia is irresistible to pollinators and how to keep them blooming longer.

Bugleweed Ajuga Rotary Botanical Gardens

Butterfly bushes care

In general places that receive sunlight for at least 8 hours a day are considered ideal for growing butterfly bushes. Dig a hole about twice the diameter of the root ball and set your plant in the garden no deeper than it was growing in its nursery pot. Learn how to plant care for and prune butterfly bush in your garden.

See pictures of the best non invasive butterfly bushes including miss molly and the lo and behold series plus find alternatives for black knight. Rather it only provides nectar to adult butterflies. Though they can be planted with other sun tolerant flowering plants make sure to keep a 4 5 feet open space around the butterfly bush to permit yourself get close enough to the plant to deadhead them.

Butterfly bush care is easy. This is particularly important in cold climates where the roots need winter protection. Butterfly bushes sometimes called summer lilacs are recommended for usda hardiness zones 5 to 10 and need full sun and fertile well drained soil.

Cover the root zone with a 2 to 4 inch 5 10 cm layer of mulch. Water the shrub slowly and deeply during prolonged dry spells so that the soil absorbs the water deep into the root zone. Also add 2 to 3 layers of compost or mulch to the ground as mulching helps retain moisture.

Caterpillars do not feed on butterfly bushes. See plants that attract butterflies. If you do have a butterfly bush be sure to add native host plants such as milkweed aster and dill if you want the butterflies to stay.

Sweet September Powell Gardens Kansas City S Botanical Garden