Butterfly bushes are fast-growing deciduous shrubs perfect for adding pops of color to your garden. The masses of flowers on a long spike are insanely attractive to butterflies.
Not only are they some of the longest-blooming plants you’ll find, but they also come in a vast array of colors, attracting pollinators.
The blooms, combined with a rich, delicious fragrance, make an impactful display in the garden. Butterfly bushes are easy to grow and maintain, which is another reason to be obsessed with them.
Whether you are planning to get a butterfly bush or you’ve already bought one, you can find the answers to your Buddlei questions here.
When do Butterfly Bushes Bloom?
Butterfly bushes start to flower in summer into fall. In most areas, the bushes start to bloom in June or July.
Blooms will arrive earlier in warmer climates. Once the zone it is planted in experiences its first frost, all the flowers will fade, and the plant will go into dormancy.
How Long do Butterfly Bushes Take to Bloom?
Whether propagated through branch cuttings or by seed, if planted and cared for properly, butterfly bushes will become established quickly and bloom in their first blooming season.
How Long do Butterfly Bushes Blooms Last?
Butterfly Bushes have a long blooming period of more than three months, from summer through fall until the first frost.
How to Care for A Blooming Butterfly Bush
Check the growing conditions of your butterfly bush. Be sure your shrub is getting everything it needs in terms of soil, sun, and water.
Water your bush freely now that it is very active. If the rainfall during the summer is less than one inch per week, give your plant a drink.
In all your waterings, make sure the soil is kept moderately moist. Make sure the soil is not too soggy and maintains a pH of 6.0 to 7.0
Make sure it is getting the prescribed amount of six hours of direct sun daily.
Remove spent flower spikes to encourage new flower production. It is also important to remove the flowers just as they start to fade.
This can push the plant to put out another round of blooms.
Do not, no matter how much you are tempted, apply fertilizer to your butterfly bush.
This shrub does not need the extra feeding, and you may damage your chances of seeing blooms in this season if you fertilize.
If you remembered to apply compost to your butterfly bush in spring, then you do not need to think about applying fertilizer.
How to Get a Butterfly Bush to Bloom
Gardeners usually have to do little to get their butterfly bushes to bloom, so if your plant is not blooming, there are easy ways to fix it.
Light
Check the amount of light your butterfly bush is receiving.
If it is in a shaded area or blocked by overhanging branches, transplant it or cut back on and canopy, blocking it from the light.
Your shrub should receive six to eight hours of light to bloom.
Stress
While uncommon, extreme stress can make a butterfly bush not bring out flowers.
Excessive drought, soggy soil, insects (beetles and grasshoppers), or even bud-eating animals that chew off the flowers and the buds will leave your plant flowerless.
Water your plant properly, but not too much, so the roots will not sit in the water the whole time.
Look for ways to get rid of and protect your plant from these destructive insects and animals.
Planted too Deeply
If your butterfly bush is planted too deeply, the results you’ll get will not be positive. The health of the plant will be affected, affecting the blooming too.
It would be best if you planted your butterfly bush at the same level it was planted when growing in a container in the nursery.
Cool Summer
If your summer has been cooler than usual, your plant may withhold flowers for that blooming season.
Keep your plant in temperatures of 75 degrees Fahrenheit and above to promote flower development.
Why Should you Invest in Butterfly Bush Flowers?
If you are still a bit skeptical about getting a butterfly bush, here are five reasons why they will be a great addition to your home.
They Attract Pollinators
The long and graceful wands of flowers of butterfly bushes attract monarchs, swallowtails, and many other types of butterflies.
They also attract other pollinators and are irresistible to hummingbirds.
With this mesmerizing power, they are easily pollinated, and the butterflies add another charm and beauty to your garden.
They are Easy to Work With
Butterfly bushes are easy to grow, mature at a very fast rate, and require minimal care, making them a perfect choice for beginner gardeners.
They seem unaffected by challenging environmental conditions and will do well despite drought and insect disturbance.
There are Many Varieties and Colors
Butterfly Bushes exist in various colors, mostly shades of blue, purple, and lavender, but they also come in white, pink, and yellow.
There are also various sizes, from dwarf shrubs to large trees, so you have a wide selection to incorporate into your landscape or your pots and flowerbeds.
They Make Great Flower Arrangements
Having freshly cut butterfly bush blooms in your home is another way to spice up the look of your living area.
You can cut the flowers anytime the plant is in bloom, but it’s best to cut them in the morning when they are still fresh. This will afford you more time to enjoy the beautiful colors before they fade.