Butterfly Bush, Spirea, and Caryopteris require a serious pruning early every spring.

 

By Chris Cohan

 

Butterfly Bush, Spirea, and Caryopteris require a serious pruning early every spring. All three bloom on new wood, so there is no harm in pruning aggressively. You will be improving the flowering potential of these summer-blooming shrubs.

 

Butterfly bush grows to seven feet in height each year. If you do not trim it way back, the tender wood may split, or the entire plant may topple over. Also, keep deadheading all spent flowers to ensure blooms until fall. Spirea should be sheared back six inches after the first bloom to provide a second. Caryopteris is a pollinator’s dream. Once out, the bold blue blooms will be covered by contented bees.

 

And here’s more good news: deer don’t like these three summer- blooming charmers. Score one for us.