Can You Plant Butterfly Bushes In The Fall?

Written by: Lindsey Griffith

Autumn brings forth some of the most beautiful times in the garden, with juicy berries, beautiful flowers, and bright orange and red foliage taking center stage. This time of year is great for reflecting on the past gardening season and for getting new plants in the ground. The cool temperatures and warm soil in fall provide the perfect environment for plants to establish before winter, giving you a head start next season compared to newly planted perennials and shrubs. Butterfly bushes are a great shrub for fall planting; follow a few simple tips to help your newly planted Buddleia shrubs through the winter.
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When Is The Best Time To Plant Butterfly Bushes In The Fall?

The best time to plant shrubs in the fall is about 6 weeks before a hard frost. A hard frost occurs after several consecutive nights of freezing temperatures. For Northern gardeners, this typically happens in October, while Southern gardeners typically don't experience their first frost until November or December. This gives shrubs ample time to establish roots before colder temperatures. Keep an eye on nighttime temperatures in your local area and learn more about frost dates at this blog: Frost Dates Explained (Gardening For Each Zone In Spring & Fall).

How To Prepare Your Freshly Planted Butterfly Bushes For Winter

Water

After planting your butterfly bush, water deeply, then leave it alone until next spring, unless you deal with a few consistent warm snaps in the fall. Regular watering will encourage new growth, but the shrub should focus its energy on establishing its root system before winter.

Mulch

After planting in the fall, add a 1-2 inch layer of mulch at the base of your butterfly bush. This insulates the young, tender roots as temperatures begin to cool. Add only a light layer, as too much mulch traps excess moisture that can cause root rot.

Patience

In short, there's actually very little you should do to butterfly bushes in winter. It can be tempting to keep watering or maintaining your shrub after fall planting, but patience and letting the roots establish will help you enjoy beautiful blooms next summer.
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Butterfly Bushes For Fall Planting:

Purple flowering Darkest Night™ butterfly bush with green leaves in a natural setting
Purple flowering Darkest Night™ butterfly bush with green leaves in a garden setting
Purple flowering plants in a field with greenery in the background
Garden scene showing Darkest Night™ butterfly bush with green foliage and purple flowers
Butterfly perched on a purple flower with a blurred natural background

Darkest Night™ Butterfly Bush - Buddleia

$24.99
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Close-up of Pugster Sorbet™ butterfly bush's pink flowers with green leaves.
Buddleja plant with pink flowers in a garden setting
Pugster Sorbet™ butterfly bushes with purple flowers and green leaves in a garden setting
Buddleja flowers in white and purple with green leaves in the background

Pugster Sorbet™ Butterfly Bush - Buddleia

$22.99
$24.99
Size
Miss Molly pink butterfly bush shining in a bright sunny garden
Miss Molly Butterfly Bush with a monarch butterfly feeding on the nectar
Pink butterfly bush flower with bee feeding on the nectar
Beautiful pink butterfly bush blooms a top green foliage
Bee feeding on pink florets from butterfly bush

'Miss Molly' Butterfly Bush - Buddleia

$21.99
$23.99
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Buddleia Lo & Behold Pink Micro Chip next to a walkway with a small dog
Buddleia Lo & Behold Pink Micro Chip planted in a grouping
Buddleia Lo & Behold Pink Micro Chip has pink blooms that attract butterflies and hummingbirds
Buddleia Lo & Behold Pink Micro Chip with Hydrangea in the background
Buddleia Lo & Behold Pink Micro Chip has a small and tidy habit that fits anywhere

Lo & Behold® 'Pink Micro Chip' Butterfly Bush - Buddleia

$23.99
Size
Buddleia Pugster Periwinkle has soft dusky violet blooms that attract Monarch butterflies
Buddleia Pugster Periwinkle has soft dusky violet blooms
Buddleia Pugster Periwinkle with white hydrangeas in background
Buddleia Pugster Periwinkle has soft dusky violet blooms

Pugster Periwinkle® Butterfly Bush - Buddleia

$23.99
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Close up image of purple florets cascading on weeping branches
Beautiful weeping purple blooms in a sunny garden
Beautiful cascading butterfly bush flowers
Close up image of purple florets cascading on weeping branches
Large shrub with vivid green foliage and purple weeping flower branches
Close up image of purple flower buds before blooming

Mop Top™ Fountain Butterfly Bush - Buddleia

$24.99
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Written by: Lindsey Griffith

Lindsey is a Zone 6B gardener and pollinator advocate, educating and providing resource material for building gardens that support pollinators like bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other beneficial insects. She is educated in landscape design, pollinator preservation, and the foundations of gardening and is ready to help keep your garden buzzing with activity!