Question
I recently bought a Fountain Butterfly Bush (aka..Buddleia alternifolia).   It came in the mail the other day, and it is basically like a baby bush, with just 3 limbs.  I bough it because on the advertisement it states that "Can be pruned to a tree-form for small spaces".  I want it to become a tree.  Do I clip the other 2 limbs now, or do I wait?  And is this the method I should be taking to form it into a tree?  If it helps, I bought it from Jackson & Perkins website.

Answer
Rachel,

What you want to do is let it grow this year and next year start to prune to shape the plant.  this will be a multi-year project as you look at the previous years growth and decide what to remove to achieve the tree form.

Good gardening



If you are satisifed with my response please consider nominating me for volunteer of the month