Butterfly bush...zone 5?

Question

What is the proper care for a butterfly bush over the winter. I live in New England and the winters get very cold/snow. I have been researching and not found a sound answer...some say cut completely back in fall and mulch, others say wait until spring. What would be the best for my area???? Thanks.

Answer 1

We're also zone 5, so here you go:
In the greenhouse, we grow many varieties of Buddleia and sell lots. I grow them myself at home, too. Most "experts" say to do the pruning of Buddleia in the early spring, before the leaf buds begin to develop low on the stems. I leave all mine until I see those leaf buds, then cut them back to about 4 inches tall. This encourages really bushy growth and more branches means more blooms! As the plants begin to grow, we also do some pruning to encourage this extra branching.
As to winter care, a little mulch never hurts. Buddleia which are really exposed may suffer a bit in a very cold winter. I don't mulch now, as our winters are so much milder than they used to be. We don't have enough cold to do any root damage. If you're still finding your winter temps hovering around freezing and below for weeks on end, mulch goooood.
If you're planting Buddleia in the fall (Now through mid-October), it doesn't hurt to give them a shot of root stimulator and to water occasionally through the cold months if it's a dry winter.

Answer 2

Care Of Butterfly Bush

Answer 3

I lolled till my sides split. The first line was the funniest if Im honest. "creation scientist?" don't make me laugh. Firstly The only "proof" that a creationist will ever come up with is the disproof of another theory as there is no scientific way testing their hypothesis. I have to say it irritates me when people clearly dont understand the evolutionary process. Evolution does not say something instantly changes into something else as many creationists believe. It is very small consecutive changes over a long time period. People say the eye cant be explained in evolutionary terms because they believe 5% of an eye woud be no good, do you not agree if for instance that 5% could allow you tell the difference between light and dark would that not be an advantage? It also gets me when people dont understand fossilization. It is a very rare process with many conditions that have to be just right for it to happen. We are not going to find every evolutionary step in lifes history because not everything was able to be fossiized. And how do religous people accept fossils are real isnt the world only meant to be 6000 years old? Species dont have a reason to evolve it just happens as result of the selectuve pressures that were around at the time. A species doesnt decide to evolve it just does. The fact is we cant go back in time an see what the conditions were like so we have to make the best guess. I asked this question earlier and got some good reponses why are creationists allowed to use the argument "if you cant see it didnt exist" but then use the opposite to prove gods existance. That to me as I stated before is hypocrisy. Also why did he pick butter and butterfly? just because the name is alike? why did he not pick two closly related species and find reasons for them to diverge? is that because he could probably find a reason? This scientist is crazy, butter doesnt reproduce it just contains the DNA left over from when the cow made the milk. One of the fundamental principles of evolution is the ability reproduce butter doesnt have that ability thats why we dont see tubs of margerine mating.

Answer 4

I answered this same question for someone else just recently... I also live in zone 5 (Southern Ontario). I leave the bush alone all winter and cut it back hard in the spring. This past spring, I took it down almost to the ground, I left only one main branch, and this summer the plant went crazy. There were blooms covering the entire bush, it grew higher and wider than ever before. In fact, it still has a few blooms on it.

Answer 5

I also live in zone 5. I cut my butterfly bush back when it is finished blooming, 2nd week of Oct. or there abouts. A lot of snow covering is good for
plants; it protects them. When Spring arrives cut of any dead branches. Be patient, mine does not show any sign of life until about mid June and then it grows fast. Mulch is always a good thing....just do not put it too close to the stem, it could rot the plant.

Answer 6

I live in zone 6 a bit further south but your best bet is to leave it be until spring...since butterfly bushes come out of dormancy in late spring wait until you see new growth then cut it back

you can mulch if you want but i dont mulch mine and they do fine...if the bush is established there should be no problems come winter

Answer 7

I would just tidy it up for going into winter... so no large / long branches get weighed down by snow and thus break.
Mulch around the base - to be removed come spring and it should be OK.
Expect some winter kill that you will trim back in the spring.

Answer 8

I live on the north shore of long island, NY I cut back any dead limbs and spent buds during the growing season. I cut back the bush in late october ( before frost ). Try not to cut back too, much. This is the time of year I try to shape my bush so in the spring it grows the way I want it to. good luck!

Answer 9

Southern Germany has a similar climate and I'm from there.
We cut back after the leaves have fallen, to avoid snow breaking the branches. Mulching is a very good idea anyway.

Answer 10

Whenever I look up info on winterizing plants, I find mostly comments from people who live in Texas or some such place. Really ? .. you can't get your Buddlea or roses or yucca through a winter in Texas ?... you might be planting them with the roots up.