Butterfly Bush question

[3princesses]

I have a butterfly bush in my backyard and it is blooming beautifully! My question though is, once the flower is done blooming and starts dying, am I supposed to cut it back or leave it alone?

[SusanP]

Just pulled out my Readers Digest Illustrated Guide to Gardening in Canada...and it pretty much matches what this website says http://www.mountainvalleygrowers.com/mvv2-94.htm although mine doesn't talk about leaving tall shoots in the centre. "Buddleia davidii is among the popular shrubs that flower on shoots grown in the current year. If left unpruned, it will develop into a very full, arching shrub, bearing many small flowers . With annual pruning the blooms will be fewer, but much larger."
"In early spring cut the previous year's shoots back to two or three buds from the base. The pruned shrub will have a low framework of main branches, from which shoots will grow rapidly to produce flowers in summer."

Looks like you are OK until spring.

[3princesses]

Thanks SusanP, that was very helpful!!! They do grow large though!!