Pruning of Butterfly Bush

Question

By careful pruning (twice yearly), can a butterfly bush be turned into a butterfly tree? My biggest concern is the lengthening of the trunk. Right now I have a single trunk, about 36 inches tall.

Answer 1

Yes, it is a process called creating a standard topiary. It is done often with hibiscus, which have a similar growing patten as butterfly bushes. This article will help: http://www.hgtv.com/landscaping/the-makings-of-a-topiary/index.html