Blue Butterfly Bush Plant Care

Blue Butterfly Bush (Rotheca myricoides) belongs to the Lamiaceae family within the Rotheca genus. Blue Butterfly Bush is native to tropical eastern Africa and widely cultivated else. Blue Butterfly Bush is also known as Weeping Foxglove.

Blue Butterfly Bush displays an upright, branching shrub growth habit, reaching up to 4 ft tall with a spread of approximately 3 ft. Blue Butterfly Bush produces small tubular flowers in shades of blue, purple, or white.

Leaf size: approximately 3 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Blue Butterfly Bush every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Blue Butterfly Bush thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Rotheca myricoides tolerates temperatures of 60–80°F. Blue Butterfly Bush prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining loamy soil with added compost for nutrients. Good drainage is essential for Blue Butterfly Bush to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Blue Butterfly Bush every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining loamy soil with added compost for nutrients. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Blue Butterfly Bush is suited to USDA Zone 13a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Blue Butterfly Bush can spread to about 3 ft (0.9 m) and reach about 4 ft (1 m) tall. Space plants about 3 ft (0.9 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Blue Butterfly Bush while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Blue Butterfly Bush is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 13). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Blue Butterfly Bush can be propagated through softwood cuttings, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to clerodendrum serratum plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Blue Butterfly Bush is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, whiteflies. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Blue Butterfly Bush grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. Blue Butterfly Bush is native to tropical eastern Africa and widely cultivated else. In cooler regions, grow Blue Butterfly Bush as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.