Butterfly Bush
 

Should I prune my Butterfly Bush back to ground level now?

I accidentally mowed one tiny Butterfly Bush with my lawn and it
produced beautiful flowers.

I am tempted to cut them back to ground level now the weather is
getting cold.

Any advice?

Thanks

Chris

Butterfly Bush
 

On 11/14/10 8:12 PM, Chris wrote:
Should I prune my Butterfly Bush back to ground level now?

I accidentally mowed one tiny Butterfly Bush with my lawn and it
produced beautiful flowers.

I am tempted to cut them back to ground level now the weather is
getting cold.

Any advice?

Thanks

Chris

It depends on the species. Some -- including the orange butterfly bush
(Buddleja globosa), the fountain butterfly bush (B. alternifolia), and
the woolly butterfly bush (B. marrubiifolia) -- should be pruned
immediately after flowering. Others -- including the common butterfly
bush (B. davidii), also known as summer lilac -- should be pruned near
the end of winter.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary

Well you said you accidentally "pruned" it once before, just do that again at the same time of year you did last time!