butterfly bush not growing well

by Debbie McHargue
(York, SC USA)

I have a blutterfly bush that is not doing well at all. We live in York, SC. Can I cut the bush back, in the fall, in the hopes more nutrients go to the root?


Doug says you can cut it back to the ground in the fall with no problem and it will come back again next spring. Our winters kill them to the ground and that's how I know this will work nicely.

Having said that - this is not why the plant is not growing well. It may be that your soil is heavy clay (it doesn't like that) or that you're not giving it enough sunlight (full sun) or no fertilizer (loves a shovel of compost in the spring) or not enough water.

Cutting it back won't put nutrients into the roots to get the plant better. If you're not happy with the growth of the plant, you have to solve what's wrong first.