Plant Care Butterfly Bush

Butterfly Bush

About Butterfly Bush

Rheca myricoides ‘Ugandense’ is a low maintenance, suckering, evergreen shrub in the Lamiaceae family that is native to tropical eastern Africa (Kenya and Uganda). It has attractive light blue to violet-blue pea-like flowers and looks great grown in a container.

Taxonomy

Rotheca myricoides
Rotheca
Lamiaceae
Lamiales

Also known as

Cats-whiskers

How to care for Butterfly Bush

💦 Water

How often to water your Butterfly Bush

Water needs for Butterfly Bush
0.5 cups
every 9

Butterfly Bush needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 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.

Calculate water needs of Butterfly Bush

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Butterfly Bush in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Butterfly Bush: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

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.

💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level
💦 Water Needs

Butterfly Bush prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. 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

Greg does not have confirmed data on this plant’s toxicity. If you, a family member, or a pet consumes plant material of unknown toxicity, it’s always best to consult a medical professional.

If you or someone else ingested this plant, call Poison Control at US (800) 222-1222. If a pet consumed this plant, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA at US (888) 426-4435.


🪴 Soil

Butterfly Bush does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Pots for Butterfly Bush →

When and How to Successfully Repot Butterfly Bush →

What Are Healthy Butterfly Bush Roots →


💩 Fertilizer

Butterfly Bush is a fast growing plant and may deplete the nutrients in its soil over time. Replenish them with a gentle organic fertilizer or compost every 1-2 months depending on your location and season. Fertilize more often during the growing season and in warmer and brighter climates.

How Much and When to Fertilize Butterfly Bush →


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Butterfly Bush will branch off as it grows. To encourage branching, pinch off the newest growth at the tip and the stem will branch off into two.

Butterfly Bush Lifecycle →

Butterfly Bush Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Butterfly Bush →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors
🌱 Propagation
🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Butterfly Bush, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


🧐 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.


Care Summary for Butterfly Bush

Butterfly Bush

Butterfly Bush


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

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