Returned to Butterfly Bush after a difficult first attempt

My first attempt at Butterfly Bush failed — dieback from harsh winters on marginally hardy varieties got hold of it and I didn't know what I was looking at until it was too late. I left it alone for a year before trying again.

The second attempt, with proper attention to pruning at the right time of year for the specific species, has been completely different. It's now thriving in a wildlife garden with berrying and nectaring shrubs and permanent woody structure providing year-round garden framework is on full display. autumn berries and foliage colour this year was a genuine reward for starting again. If you failed first time, the plant isn't the problem — the conditions probably were.