Heres when to trim back this summer-flowering shrub.
Getty Images
Butterfly bushes are hugely popular in the South for many reasons.
Of course, they also provide nectar-rich food forbutterflies, which visit these pretty shrubs all season long.
Credit:Getty Images
Mostbutterfly bushesthrive in USDA hardiness zones 5 to 9 (check your zonehere).
These often are marketed as summer lilacs.
Should You Prune A Butterfly Bush?
In mild winters, they may remain partly green, and they may even keep blooming occasionally.
But even after mild winters, these shrubs need pruned to keep them strong and manageable.
Even if the plant didnt drop all its leaves, you should still prune.
Because they bloom on new wood, pruning at this time also will not diminish summer flowering.
Dead or broken branches, however, can be trimmed off at any time during the growing season.
Also, its not necessary to deadhead, or remove spent blooms, during the growing season.
But its perfectly fine to do so if you prefer a tidier, more manicured appearance.
Avoid giving up on your plant too soon.
Even dwarf varieties should be pruned every year, though youll take off less overall.
Use pruners or bypass loppers to trim your shrub.
Cut back to just above where green, healthy buds have formed.
For stems that are totally dead, take them off all the way to the ground.
