Butterfly Bush Not Leafing Out After Fall Pruning

Wrong Pruning Time

Pruning butterfly bush (Buddleia) to 4 inches in fall removed protective growth and exposed the plant to winter kill. Buddleia should be pruned in late winter/early spring, just before new growth emerges.

Is It Dead?

Scratch a stem with your fingernail. Green underneath means it's alive. Buddleia is very hardy and often resprouts from the base.

Recovery Steps

• Apply a balanced fertilizer now.
• Water deeply once a week during dry spells.
• Wait—new growth may appear from the crown.
• If no growth by early summer, replace the plant.

Lesson learned: prune Buddleia in March, not October.