The Best Ways to Care for Buddleja

Planting a butterfly bush in an optimum location minimizes the time you’ll spend on maintenance. Choose a sunny or partly shaded area where the soil is well-drained. Soil that is constantly wet encourages rot. When planted in good quality garden soil, a butterfly bush rarely needs fertilizer. Give your butterfly bush plenty of room.

How to Plant

When planting a new plant, separate it from another where the root system will grow. Since this one will have a shallow root system, you don’t want to dig it too deep. But don’t force it too shallow. Too shallow, and the plant may not survive. Make sure you plant your new buddleja into a spot that gets morning sun. Avoid planting it near walls and below a roof line since the shade that radiates from these areas is strong. Use a stake or tie to stabilize your new buddleja plant while it grows. There will be fewer leaves than flowers to feed the plant, so they need more. Water the plant to keep the soil evenly moist. Water it if it’s grown in a location that doesn’t receive much rain. Staking a new plant The purpose of a stake is to support the root system.

Location

Choose a location that receives at least eight hours of direct sun a day. Once established, a butterfly bush will appreciate plenty of room to spread its luscious foliage. Watering Water your butterfly bush at the base. Don’t allow your plant to get waterlogged. Butterfly bushes grow best in partial shade. If your plant is growing in full shade, it may benefit from a plant-watering schedule. Your butterfly bush’s best survival strategy is to have plenty of deep, deep watering. In a pinch, butterfly bushes will grow in containers, which need watering every other week or so. Lawnmowers or weed whackers should never be used on the upper portions of a butterfly bush. The plant will withstand occasional cuts, but it will never enjoy its full growth potential.