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Butterfly Bush

About Butterfly Bush

Plants in the Crassula genus are amazingly diverse and come in an incredible assortment of sizes and colors. Many of the ones we grow today are native to a small region in South Africa, which makes that diversity even more amazing! They're super low maintenance plants that can handle long periods of drought, so great if you're prone to skipping waters (we won't tell). 🫢 Make sure they get plenty of sunlight and that they're planted in a pot with a drainage hole and they'll be happy as can be!

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Crassula rubricaulis

Genus

Crassula

Family

Crassulaceae

Order

Saxifragales

How to care for Butterfly Bush

💦 Water

How often to water your Butterfly Bush

Butterfly Bush needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Butterfly Bush in your home

Butterfly Bush love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Butterfly Bush does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Butterfly Bush in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Butterfly Bush

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Butterfly Bush: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Butterfly Bush after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

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💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

Butterfly Bush thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Butterfly Bush Water Frequency →

Butterfly Bush Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Butterfly Bush requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Butterfly Bush Light Requirements →

Butterfly Bush Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Butterfly Bush is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.

💨 Humidity

Butterfly Bush enjoys lots of humidity. Provide humidity for your plant by watering regularly and thoroughly, since plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves. They may also benefit from being placed next to a humidifier.

Butterfly Bush Humidity Needs →

🪴 Soil

Butterfly Bush is very sensitive to wet soil, so choose a potting soil that drains very well and doesn’t retain too much moisture. A good soil will have lots of perlite or vermiculite for drainage and some organic matter for nutrition. A few handfuls of perlite added to regular store-bought cactus soil will do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Butterfly Bush →

When and How to Successfully Repot Butterfly Bush →

💩 Fertilizer

Butterfly Bush grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Butterfly Bush →

❄️ Dormancy

It’s common for Butterfly Bush to go dormant in the summertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.

🌎 Native Region

Butterfly Bush is native to South Africa.

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Butterfly Bush can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Butterfly Bush Temperature Tolerance →

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.

😖 Common Issues

Overwatering is a likely cause of issues with Butterfly Bush. These plants are very sensitive to wet soil so if you notice your plant becoming squishy or translucent, overwatering is the likely culprit.

Cut your plant just past where the rot ends and allow it to callus over for a few days before replanting it in fresh, dry soil. Download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!