Planting and Growing Buddleia (Butterfly Bush): Your Greenwood Nursery Guide
Give your Buddleia (Butterfly Bush) the perfect start with this comprehensive guide from Greenwood Nursery, your trusted online plants nursery. Learn the best way to plant and care for these butterfly-attracting beauties for vibrant blooms year after year.
Planting Your Butterfly Bush:
- Create a planting hole 2 times wider than the root ball and about the same depth. Pre-watering the hole (2 inches deep, allow to soak) provides initial hydration.
- Gently remove the Buddleia from its container and loosen any circling roots to encourage outward growth.
- Place the plant slightly above ground level in the hole. Backfill with the removed soil, pressing lightly to eliminate air pockets.
- Water deeply after planting to settle the soil. Add more soil if sinking occurs.
- Apply a 2-3 inch layer of shredded bark or aged compost around the base (avoiding direct contact with the stem) to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Year-Round Buddleia Care:
- Watering: Water regularly during the first month (every 2-3 days, adjusting for rain). Once established, water deeply but less frequently, allowing the plant to seek its own moisture. Increase watering during hot, dry periods.
- Sunlight & Spacing: Plant in full to partial sun with 4-8 foot spacing for optimal growth and flowering. Grouping 3-5 plants enhances visual impact.
- Soil: Buddleias thrive in slightly alkaline soil (pH 6.5-7.0).
- Fertilizing: In spring, apply a slow-release general fertilizer from your online nursery to support healthy growth.
- Deadheading: Remove spent flower spikes regularly to encourage continuous blooming throughout the season.
- Pruning: In colder zones (6 and north), cut back plants hard in late winter/early spring. Warmer zones (like parts of 7) may also require significant pruning. Mature plants can be pruned as small shrubs in winter.
- Spider Mite Control: Monitor for spider mites (tiny red/rust spots on paper held under branches). Treat monthly with a miticide if infestation occurs.
Discover a wide selection of Buddleias and other exceptional plants at Greenwood Nursery, your premier online nursery. Shop our online plants nursery today and create a butterfly haven in your garden!
