We "inherited" about 6 huge butterfly bushes in our backyard - they are considered an invasive weed in some places, so I take this to mean that they are very hardy. We cut ours back severely last year as they were overgrown and they all have a lot of green foliage - but no blooms.

In general I don't have good luck with mail order plants, maybe see if you can obtain one locally and see if that one does better? Good luck.

Yeah..these are pretty tough, at least in my zone. I planted one in a south flowerbed and it just took off and got much larger than I anticipated, so I do some pretty liberal pruning every year. I'd say try it again, since it is considered a pretty easy plant to grow, and the foliage is real nice and attracts butterflies like crazy. At any one time, I can look out our dining room window and find a dozen butterflies of different species all over the thing, and this goes on all day long. I like it and wouldn't hesitate to plant more. Good luck. I agree with the suggestion to get a plant locally- talk to some nursery people to get a better feel about how it may take in your area.

Best,
Keith

I'm in your zone, and although I don't have mini's, I've found bfly bushes to be late starters compared to other stuff I've got. Mine are full-sized and several years old and DH cut them back severely (like BELOW soil level, God bless 'im!) right before the late freeze. I was panicking a couple weeks ago, but the little guys are pulling through. They have a small growth showing and my neighbor reminded me that I was in a tizzy last year about them also. They are just not early risers in this zone, I guess. Mine are not in full sun all day, either. This could make a difference. Up north in zone 5, my friend's bushes are further along, but they get sun from sunrise to sunset. HTH

There's LOTS of discussion on this on the Butterfly Forum. What I have gleaned from there:

1. It's been a crazy winter. Although BBs are late to get started ANYWAY, they would be moreso this year.
2. We are right on the edge of the zone where these are hardy. To ensure success here in Z5, we need to mulch heavily in fall.
3. It's possible that your BB is still dormant. I went to a plant sale in Z6 this weekend, and a BB for sale there from a local gal was barely getting started.

Bottom line: don't give up yet! It may be June before you see new growth. Buzz over to the Butterfly forum and check out the first few pages of posts; there's a couple discussions going recently.

Zone 5 is the borderline of hardiness for Buddleia. I have 2 Black Knight and 2 Pink Delight. The Black Knight is hardier than the Pink Delight, I've read that the darker colors are more winter-hardy.

I usually cut them down to 6 inches or so in Spring before they start growing. Right now they have many green shoots that are about 4-6 inches tall.

I have never experienced any invasive tendencies in this Zone. We're lucky here if they make it through a harsh winter.

If you haven't seen any growth at all, it's possible yours is dead. Perhaps the miniature is not a very hardy cultivar.

I don't have any of the mini variety, but I do have two 3 in 1 multi colored variety. They were mail order too. Ordered them 2 years ago, and I have cut them both back to around 4 inches tall each early spring before new growth occurs. I also keep mulch on them for over wintering. I have found mine only bloom on new wood, so the part I trim usually doesn't come back, but little shoots grow off the old wood, and grow up quite nicely around the trimmed parts once the weather warms considerably. My variety is a mid summer bloomer, and doesn't start showing signs of life until it stays warm consistently. I have one planted in my butterfly garden which is in full sun, and it's is about 8 inches tall now but will grow around 6 ft tall. It just started showing new growth last week, The other is on the north side of my house, and gets only around 2 hours of afternoon sun, it stays a good bit smaller then the other (only gets about 3- 4 ft tall, but fits nicely in the area it calls home). The one in partial shade is only about 4 inches tall now and started showing life last week as well. I have had no problems with them being invasive at all. So I have to agree with the others, perhaps that is not an issue in zone 5. This is the 3rd year I have thought- it is not going to make it this year, but somehow it always comes back. I would give it some more time, I have lots of plants that would normally be in full bloom right now that are still trying to catch up from our crazy weather. Sometimes the only thing you can do is remember that the nice thing about MOST mail order companies is they guarantee there plants, without any hassle. Wish you the best of luck. I know how hard it can be to give up on one of natures little wondersÂ

I am in mid Michigan, and my BB are just starting to show ANY growth. Looks like it is starting from the roots, maybe killed all the branches. They do that in cold winters, very delayed starting.

One year they did nothing until JULY!! I had dug up the oldest one by then, replacing it. Didn't get to the other two, and they finally leafed out. Probably the dug up one, would have sprouted if left alone. Flowers are way later in starting, nothing will bloom for awhile yet.

I trim mine back every year in spring, get super growth and bush is back with good size by winter.

I think of my BB as in the same timing of growth as the hardy Hibiscus. Just really late starters, but worth waiting for.

You could purchase a second BB and put it beside the unsprouted one. I would get a contrasting color. Then if the older one is dead, you have replaced it. If not dead, you get a 2-color bush in that spot for the rest of summer.I have a white and pink planted together, very pretty.

I haven't heard of miniature BBs, may not be quite as hardy. My small lilacs have not grown as well as the big ones.