Butterfly Bushesshould they be cut back during the winter?

We planted a few butterfly bushes on our back hill but were wondering if they should be cut back during the winter months or left alone? Thanks in advance.--Mrs. K

Either way. Depends if you want them taller, I cut mine back but not necessarily every year - definitely when they get knarly and thick and ugly limbed.

They say to prune spring blooming shrubs after they flower and fall blooming shrubs in the spring

Here's some info that I found:

"Unlike most pruning guidelines, there is no surefire technique on how to prune a butterfly bush. However, as with most shrubs and trees, it is always a good idea to remove any broken, dead, or diseased limbs by cutting them at the point of origin.

Most people prefer to cut back the entire shrub to within a foot or two from the ground, which actually allows it to become more manageable. Without pruning, the butterfly bush may become a bit unruly.

In fact, butterfly bush pruning can take place just about any time of the year. However, certain pruning techniques will help promote more vigorous growth and healthier blooms. Generally, most butterfly bush pruning should take place during the winter months, in warmer climates, while the plant is dormant. However, the butterfly bush can also be pruned in the spring with no ill effects. Just make sure you wait until the threat of frost has passed."

flwAjen, the butterfly bush blooms all spring/summer/fall here in 7a, so I guess it's okay to prune pretty much any time.

If you're going to cut it back, I'd probably do it in early spring. Then as it blooms during the summer, you can deadhead/trim back slightly to keep it blooming longer (and keep it a bit more compact in the process). I'm not sure what zone you're in, but in zones 5-6 they will often die back over the winter so whatever's showing above ground may not be alive anyway. If you're in a warmer zone though they don't die back but cutting it back in early spring can help keep it bushier & more compact (mine tend to get rather ungainly looking if I don't prune them back every year)

I never do any pruning in winter (I'm in UK) unless the stronger winter winds are going to cause the plant to rock too and fro as this will loosen the roots of all plants, I do like to do an Autumn tidy up to prevent wet rotting foliage causing SOME plants to rot with wet foliage laying on top of the crowns of the plants. Most shrubs can withstand this wet stuff around the roots as the roots are normally deeper underground with the exception of Rhododendrons etc.
All my Butterfly bush plants are pruned back in spring as the top decaying growth helps prevent the frost traveling all the way down to the bottom of the stems, I have friends who cut everything back at autumn clean up and loose very little plants, so the real answer is, take a good look around neighbours gardens and try assess what they do and are their gardens facing the same direction as you, do they have more shade / sun etc, this way you will learn what's best for your own area and most important what's best for your own garden and plants. As stated there's very few hard and fast rules for some plants, and here in UK the Butterfly Bush is classed as a weed in some areas as it can set it's seeds almost anywhere in cracks and crevices and still flourish without help from feeding, pruning, little soil and survives no matter what life throws at it. sometime we molly coddle our garden plants too much but thats the joy of gardening ha, ha, ha.
Hope everyone's help gives you the info you needed. Good luck. WeeNel.

Hi WeeNel - I thought you disappeard - it has been a long time since I've seen a post from you and actually asked after you a long while back. Glad to see you are here.

Regarding the butterfly bush. I am no expert but I assure you in my NC garden --- I can take a plow to the thing and it keeps coming back and it spreads it little babies everywhere -- not welcome in my garden. I cut it to the ground and haven't lost one yet. It is a matter of taste --but regarding the spent blooms ---- there is a certain beauty in them...not while there are others looking fresher --- but in the winter garden. So it is a matter of choice with this hardy shrub. The darn thing loses it charm if left unattended however.

Missingrosie, we've had a really mild winter, and my butterfly bush never lost its leaves or the spent blooms. Then I just learned that it's evergreen in warmer climates. I got a smaller cultivar which has turned out to be a cute little plant! I do think the regular tall variety gets to be such a monster when not pruned.

It may not 'lose' all the leaves in a warm season...but the leaves do get junky mottled looking. I might like the smaller varieties better - I will check those out. But then again - I have the miss kim lilac and other shrubs that sort of look like the butterfly in flower and not as unruly. my fav for fragrance and beauty and discipline is Dark Knight Caryopteris. (don't check my spelling!!) But this also can be cut waaaay back.... the fragrance for me is hard to describe.... but it wafts all over the place especially after a rain. Very fresh. Easily propagated (a piece cut and jammed in the ground ...or self seeded) and such a brilliant brilliant blue.

I cut mine back in late winter like Roses to about 12". You can cut them back to any height you want. Some people use various heights if they have several in a row.

No advise to add but if anyone has a Yellow BB Id love to have a cutting or a baby. I had 2 and they grew huge but the Spider Mites took them out when it got really hot. Dmail me if you have any extras.
Thanks

Thanks, everyone, for your responses! As for zone, I live in the northeastern U.S.--Mrs. K.

You can find your hardiness zone here....they just adjusted it
http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/#