I planted a butterfly bush earlier this spring that is now about 4.5 feet
high at the tip of the longest branch. The bush has mulitple canes coming
from the rootball which range from 2 to 4.5 feet high. On the tallest
branches, which are the newer, soft wood growth, the leaves have a whitish
cast to them, whereas the leaves on the shorter, hardwood branches are very
green with no whitish cast. At first I thought it might have powdery
mildew, but looking more closely, the leaves don't have that wrinkled look
that rose bush leaves get when they have powdery mildew. So, because the
color difference is between leaves on soft-wood and hardwood branches, I'm
wondering if this is just the way that leaves on soft wood branches look.
Can someone with butterfly bush experience enlighten me? I don't want to
treat it for powdery mildew if that's not the problem. Thanks in advance!

Rhonda
Richmond, VA
USDA Zone 7



********
Basic human psychology is one of my subroutines.

Sounds normal. pinch the very tips to get them to branch out a little.
Butterfly bush has 2 distinct types of leaves on the same plant, winter
and summer foliage I would bet you are comparing them.
Natty Dread wrote:
I planted a butterfly bush earlier this spring that is now about 4.5 feet
high at the tip of the longest branch. The bush has mulitple canes coming
from the rootball which range from 2 to 4.5 feet high. On the tallest
branches, which are the newer, soft wood growth, the leaves have a whitish
cast to them, whereas the leaves on the shorter, hardwood branches are very
green with no whitish cast. At first I thought it might have powdery
mildew, but looking more closely, the leaves don't have that wrinkled look
that rose bush leaves get when they have powdery mildew. So, because the
color difference is between leaves on soft-wood and hardwood branches, I'm
wondering if this is just the way that leaves on soft wood branches look.
Can someone with butterfly bush experience enlighten me? I don't want to
treat it for powdery mildew if that's not the problem. Thanks in advance!

Rhonda
Richmond, VA
USDA Zone 7



********
Basic human psychology is one of my subroutines.

"Natty Dread" wrote in message
...
I planted a butterfly bush earlier this spring that is now about 4.5 feet
high at the tip of the longest branch. The bush has mulitple canes coming
from the rootball which range from 2 to 4.5 feet high. On the tallest
branches, which are the newer, soft wood growth, the leaves have a whitish
cast to them, whereas the leaves on the shorter, hardwood branches are very
green with no whitish cast. At first I thought it might have powdery
mildew, but looking more closely, the leaves don't have that wrinkled look
that rose bush leaves get when they have powdery mildew. So, because the
color difference is between leaves on soft-wood and hardwood branches, I'm
wondering if this is just the way that leaves on soft wood branches look.
Can someone with butterfly bush experience enlighten me? I don't want to
treat it for powdery mildew if that's not the problem. Thanks in advance!

Rhonda
Richmond, VA
USDA Zone 7


What the other person said is correct. Leave the plant alone and just
observe. You haven't owned it long enough to know what's normal. Although
other peoples' descriptions can be helpful, plants can behave in slightly
different ways depending on lots of other factors, all of which are within
the range of normal.

Do not treat the plant for powdery mildew. Do NOT.

Natty Dread wrote:
I planted a butterfly bush earlier this spring that is now about 4.5 feet
high at the tip of the longest branch. The bush has mulitple canes coming
from the rootball which range from 2 to 4.5 feet high. On the tallest
branches, which are the newer, soft wood growth, the leaves have a whitish
cast to them, whereas the leaves on the shorter, hardwood branches are very
green with no whitish cast. At first I thought it might have powdery
mildew, but looking more closely, the leaves don't have that wrinkled look
that rose bush leaves get when they have powdery mildew. So, because the
color difference is between leaves on soft-wood and hardwood branches, I'm
wondering if this is just the way that leaves on soft wood branches look.
Can someone with butterfly bush experience enlighten me? I don't want to
treat it for powdery mildew if that's not the problem. Thanks in advance!

Rhonda
Richmond, VA
USDA Zone 7



********
Basic human psychology is one of my subroutines.

That's normal for new leaves.

Thanks so much to everyone who responded. It's nice to know that I'm right
for a change! ;-)

ND


"Natty Dread" wrote in message
...
I planted a butterfly bush earlier this spring that is now about 4.5 feet
high at the tip of the longest branch. The bush has mulitple canes coming
from the rootball which range from 2 to 4.5 feet high. On the tallest
branches, which are the newer, soft wood growth, the leaves have a whitish
cast to them, whereas the leaves on the shorter, hardwood branches are very
green with no whitish cast. At first I thought it might have powdery
mildew, but looking more closely, the leaves don't have that wrinkled look
that rose bush leaves get when they have powdery mildew. So, because the
color difference is between leaves on soft-wood and hardwood branches, I'm
wondering if this is just the way that leaves on soft wood branches look.
Can someone with butterfly bush experience enlighten me? I don't want to
treat it for powdery mildew if that's not the problem. Thanks in advance!

Rhonda
Richmond, VA
USDA Zone 7



********
Basic human psychology is one of my subroutines.