Question about when to prune a Beauty Bush...

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BlackDogKurt Seymour, CT Sep 13, 2007

I am considering the purchase of a Dream Catcher 'Maradco' Beauty Bush (Genus - Kolkwitzia amabilis) and have a question about when to prune it. According to the growing tips for this plant on the Proven Winners web site, it says to renew it, cut it to the ground after flowering. Would I actually do this in the late spring just after flowering though??? Wouldn't that also eliminate any berries that fall? Wouldn't I instead want to prune it to the ground in late winter before new growth starts, the same as you would with a butterfly bush? I live in Zone 6 by the way. Thanks

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Sep 13, 2007

You shouldn't need to prune it severely like that every year, that's just if it starts to get ugly and leggy, normally you can probably do a much lighter pruning, although you should still do it after flowering. For spring bloomers, it is generally better to prune them after flowering (although you're right, you wouldn't get berries then in the fall. I didn't know this plant made interesting berries though--are you maybe thinking of Callicarpa, Beauty Berry instead?) Buttefly bushes are summer bloomers, that's why you prune them in late winter.

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BlackDogKurt Seymour, CT Sep 13, 2007

Thanks for the information. And yes, I think I confused a Beauty Berry bush that I saw with fall golden foliage and purple berries with a 'Maradco' Beauty Bush that I saw online. That clears up part of the confusion too. Thanks again!

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Sep 14, 2007

The Beauty Bush (Kolkwitzia) has much prettier flowers than the Beauty Berry (Callicarpa). So I don't think you'll be disappointed with it!

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