Home & Garden Trees & Houseplants

How to Prune a Butterfly Bush for Winter

By Home & Garden Last updated Saturday, May/18/2024

1). Prune old branches--the previous year's growth--in late winter or early spring, when winter is almost over but before new growth has emerged.
2). Cut back old branches to within 12 inches of the ground--or all the way to the ground, as some gardeners prefer--starting at the outside of the bush and working inward to the shrub's center. Prune heavily to stimulate vigorous new growth from the plant's crown. Butterfly bush flowers are produced only on new growth.
3). Clean up all pruned branches and other clippings and dispose of them in the garbage--or burn them--rather than composting. Prevent the rooting and establishment of new plants from stem cuttings. Butterfly bush is considered an invasive species in the Pacific Northwest and other locations where it poses a threat to native habitats.
4). Prune butterfly bushes that overgrow the available space or get too lanky any time from spring through mid-summer.

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