Butterfly Bushes (Buddleja) are easily some of the most popular flowering shrubs for any garden. The only catch? They can get huge! A classic *Buddleja davidii* can easily tower up to 12 or 13 feet tall. If you’re working with a smaller space, don’t worry—you don’t have to miss out. You can actually train a Butterfly Bush into a “standard” (which is just garden-speak for a mini-tree shape).
The Butterfly Bush Standard
To grow a Butterfly Bush as a standard, you’ll pick one strong main stem to act as your trunk and use regular pruning to shape a bushy canopy on top. This keeps the plant compact and manageable, making it perfect for a patio or even a container on your balcony. It’s a total game-changer for small yards. Here are a few ways to use them:
- As a focal point in a perennial bed (plus, you get extra space to plant flowers underneath!)
- As a standalone specimen on a lawn or in a front yard
- Lined up in pairs to create a stunning entrance along a garden path
- In a large pot next to your front door to welcome guests
Location and Soil
Just like their wilder cousins, these standards love a warm, sunny spot. They aren’t too picky about soil, but they do best in loose, well-draining earth that isn’t overly rich. Aim for a pH that’s slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. If you’re planting in a pot, use a high-quality potting mix blended with some coarse sand or fine gravel to ensure good drainage.
Feeding and Pruning
For plants in the ground, I recommend a handful of horn meal or fresh compost twice a year: once when the first buds appear in late March, and again when the blooming starts in June. Pro tip: For the best flowers, look for a fertilizer that’s higher in phosphorus and lower in nitrogen.
If you want to train your own standard from scratch, start by picking the strongest central shoot and tying it securely to a sturdy stake. Let it grow like this for two to five years. Once it hits your desired height, snip off the very top (the “terminal bud”). This stops the upward growth and encourages the plant to branch out into a crown. While the plant is young, give it a light trim in the spring, but be careful not to cut into the main structure you’re building.
Since Butterfly Bushes bloom on “new wood” (the growth from the current season), you’ll want to give your established tree a good hard prune every spring. Cut back the branches in the crown to keep the shape tidy, but leave the main trunk alone. One important rule: if you see any little shoots popping out along the trunk, rub them off or prune them away immediately. If you let those grow, your elegant little tree will turn back into a wild shrub before you know it!
