Butterfly bushes (Buddleia or Buddleja) are butterfly magnets that are easy to care for and need little watering once mature. Although established as an invasive plant in some regions of the United States, this beauty is not invasive in dry areas like the Southwest. And most new species of the plant have been bred as seedless and are not a problem. The shrub comes in dwarf or large varieties and several flower colors and is an easy-care low-water choice for a garden. Once planted in full sun and kept healthy, they will bring beauty and butterflies to the garden all season long.
What You Need To Plant a Butterfly Bush
Grab a shovel to dig a hole for the shrub that is about double its plastic container width and a few inches deeper. Use the shovel to loosen the soil in the hole and add some organic compost to ensure the soil drains well once the plant goes in. A pair of scissors or clippers can be handy for carefully cutting a side of the container if the shrub does not loosen easily and to remove any tags attached to branches.
Where to Plant Butterfly Bush
Butterfly bushes need full sun (at least 8 hours a day) to thrive and flower fully. Look for a loamy, well-draining soil if possible. If a yard has only clay soil, the butterfly bush can survive with a few care adjustments. The shrub should rest with its base just above ground level so water flows away from the plant's center.
Butterfly Bush Spacing
Bring the most butterflies with several of the bushes planted in the same area of the yard. They make a stunning and natural border or hedge. The plant's spread and spacing depends on the variety—larger butterfly bushes usually grow to about 5 or 6 feet wide, and smaller ones less than 2 feet high and wide. Look at the plant tag for its mature size and plant the shrubs a foot or more further apart (from center to center) than the plant's spread. Be sure to leave a few feet of space between the plant's center and any nearby structures such as walls or fences. It needs some space to grow and air circulation, plus a change for butterflies and birds to get to all the rich blooms.
Steps To Plant Butterfly Bush
After locating a sunny spot, dig a hole about twice as wide and a few inches deeper than the plant's root ball. Loosen the soil around the hole edges. Don't amend the soil except for adding some organic compost to keep the soil around the plant loose and fertile. Carefully remove the shrub from the container by holding the plant at its base and squeezing the container. If it does not come out easily, water it and let it sit for an hour or so, then try again. Or cut a side of the plastic pot to make it easier to pull the butterfly bush out without damaging it.
Once the plant is out of the pot, gently tease the roots if they are wrapped around. This also is easier to do when the soil inside is damp. Next, place the shrub in the hole, resting its base just above ground level. Backfill the hole evenly, pressing gently to firm up the soil. Make sure all roots are covered and then water slowly and deeply.
Step 1 - pick out the perfect location
Step 2 - dig a hole about twice as wide and a few inches deeper than the root ball
Step 3 - Remove the shrub from the container and gently tease the roots
Step 4 - Place the plant in the hole with the base just above ground level
Step 5- Backfill the hole with dirt and press gently around the base of the plant
Step 6 - Ensure all roots are covered then water the plant slow and deep
FAQs
They grow rapidly and their seeds spread aggressively into natural areas, making them a potential noxious weed. It's recommended that if you have butterfly bushes, you should remove the spent flower clusters to prevent seeding. Each flower can produce 40,000 seeds!
What month do you plant butterfly bushes? ›
Planting: Plant in early spring or fall. If planting in midsummer in hot climates, be sure to provide plenty of water and even some afternoon shade.
Where's the best place to plant a butterfly bush? ›
Butterfly bush need full sun.
When we say full sun, we mean it – butterfly bush require a minimum of 8 hours of bright sunlight. Even in warm climates, plant them where they get no fewer than 6 hours of sun.
How often should I water a butterfly bush after planting? ›
Give butterfly bush about an inch of water a week while they're actively growing, if rain isn't sufficient, but don't worry if you occasionally forget to irrigate. In the first year after planting, these bushes need regular water to develop strong roots.
Why not plant butterfly bushes? ›
butterfly bush contributes to the collapse of food webs
“If you don't have that, the plant-caterpillar-chickadee food web stops,” Tallamy explains. “If you plant butterfly bush, and not native [species], then right away you're removing at least 75% of the food that is supporting the biodiversity that's out there.”
Do butterfly bushes attract mosquitoes? ›
The scientists chose the butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) for their experiment because it's a very hardy plant that flowers throughout the year, and mosquitoes are attracted to it.
What happens if you don't cut back a butterfly bush? ›
But without regular pruning, butterfly bushes can become sparse, and flowering can diminish, leaving next to nothing for pollinators. So keep pruning to keep the butterflies coming to your garden for years to come!
Do hummingbirds like butterfly bushes? ›
As you can imagine, the butterfly bush is famous for attracting butterflies, though hummingbirds enjoy its large, fragrant flowers as well. This perennial can grow five to 12 feet tall and spread four to 15 feet. Blossom colors vary, but pink, purple, red and white are the most common.
Are butterfly bushes high maintenance? ›
Pruning and Deadheading
While butterfly bushes are quite low maintenance overall, annual pruning and regular deadheading is recommended to maintain your plant's best health. Deadheading your plants means snipping off any browning flower clusters to encourage more flowering though the bloom season.
How deep should a butterfly bush be planted? ›
After locating a sunny spot, dig a hole about twice as wide and a few inches deeper than the plant's root ball. Loosen the soil around the hole edges. Don't amend the soil except for adding some organic compost to keep the soil around the plant loose and fertile.
Butterfly bush is usually planted from potted nursery starts or planted from seeds in the spring. It is a very fast-growing plant that usually reaches maturity within a single growing season, but some wariness is warranted, as this plant self-seeds so readily that it is considered a noxious weed in some regions.
How do you make a butterfly bush thrive? ›
Butterfly bushes are full sun plants. That means they should get at least six hours of bright sun each day. It doesn't need to come all at once – it can be in chunks throughout the day. In very hot climates, a bit of afternoon shade is permissible.
How do I make my butterfly bush fuller? ›
How Can I Encourage Fuller Growth in Butterfly Bush?
- Age: If your butterfly bush is an older specimen, it may be petering out. ...
- Light: Make sure your plants get full sun. ...
- Soil: Well-drained average soil is best for butterfly bushes. ...
- Pests: Various pests can reduce the vigor and flowering of butterfly bush.
Because butterfly bushes offer copious amounts of nectar, they become extremely attractive to pollinators, distracting them from other native co-flowering species, and reducing the native's reproductive success which eventually also harms the native's populations.
What damage does the butterfly bush do? ›
Ecological Impacts: It has been planted in landscapes to attract butterflies, bees, moths and birds. It can escape from plantings and become invasive in a variety of habitats such as surface mined lands, coastal forest edges, roadsides, abandoned railroads, rural dumps, stream and river banks to displace native plants.
What are the disadvantages of the butterfly method? ›
Here are some disadvantages to keep in mind:
- May cause hemolysis: Needles with a gauge size 25 or higher are not always recommended because as needle size gets smaller, the risk of hemolysis increases. ...
- Takes more time: A smaller needle draws blood at a slower rate than a larger one.
What are disadvantage of butterflies? - Quora. Usually, the disadvantage to humans is in the caterpillar not the the imago. The larval (caterpillar) form of the insect eats a great deal because it has to grow. Usually, this means leaves of a peculiar type.
