Butterfly Bush – Is it Sick or Extremely Thirsty

Question

Planted a butterfly bush in spring a year ago. Of course, that was the hottest year ever, so I wasn’t too concerned about the butterfly bush wilting. I watered it twice a day, every day. But now a year later the plant is still wilting. It’s planted in part shade. Does not get a lot of the afternoon sun. If it’s going to die anyway, do I need to treat it with something or dig it up and plant a new one? I planted a reblooming lilac at the same time and it is fine.

Answer 1

I would suspect that a fungus is attacking the roots or leaves of the sickly plant. Treat the plant’s leaves with a fungicide and mix some fungicide into water and water the plant with it. I will say that if it is a fungus on the roots, they tend to be more resistant to fungicides and may not fix the issues. In which case, it may be best to remove the plant before the fungus spreads. Does the site receive a lot of water or stay somewhat moist? These plants are very susceptible to water issues over the winter. The location may have been a little too wet, which could spawn fungal issues. I would recommend either that you plant a new one in a drier location or mound up the soil in that location some so that it will be sitting in drier soil over the winter–that is if the shrub has not already succumbed to the fungus.