(Question)
I trimmed my butterfly bush down in the fall to about a foot tall. It is now mid May in Ontario and I noticed the bark on my Butterfly bush is peeling on the stumps and there appears to be no growth on my Butterfly bush. I live in zone 4. Is it possible it is still too early to see any growth or are they dead. I have 3 and they all look the same. Thank-you
(Answer)
You say “Zone 4 Ontario”. Here in Toronto, the butterfly bushes are barely beginning to bud out and since you are further north, they will be even more delayed … especially since we have had a late, cold and wet spring so far.
So wait a few more weeks to check for signs of life, by gently scraping a tiny bit of bark off and looking for green underneath.