Butterfly Bush is a naturalized American deciduous shrub from Asia. It’s natural habitat is on slopes, in clearings, or along elevated creek and river banks. Butterfly Bush craves sunlight and a soil that will drain well.

As the name happily gives away, Butterfly Bushes nectar is a hit with our friends from the Lepidoptera order. The flowers emerge from arching stems covered in sage-like leaves during the late spring to early summer, and blooms will usually extend into autumn, providing a long season of food for butterflies and moths, as well as bees. Hummingbirds also frequent the conical flower spikes during the summer.

Care:

Butterfly Bush, once established, generally requires one particular act of care. To promote optimum flowering, strong branches, and an overall beautiful arching habit, the shrub is cut down to about a foot and a half in height prior to winter. In colder climates, the plant will die back to the ground, regardless, every winter).

Picking spent flower heads also encourages continuous blooming throughout a long season, and optimizes the visual beauty.

Photo Credit:
Richard Chambers