Butterfly bush lives up to its name almost immediately after planting, its long, honey-scented flower spikes drawing butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds from all over the neighborhood.
Native to China, butterfly bush has become one of the most reliable pollinator plants in home gardens, blooming continuously from summer into fall, though in some regions it's classified as invasive and gardeners are encouraged to choose sterile cultivars.
Butterfly bush wants full sun and well-draining soil, and it blooms on new wood, so cutting it back hard in early spring encourages the most vigorous flowering. Deadheading spent flower spikes throughout the season keeps new blooms coming and helps limit self-seeding.
Choosing a sterile or non-invasive cultivar lets gardeners enjoy the pollinator benefits of butterfly bush without the self-seeding concerns some regions have flagged.
