Mine are all inground, Kristy, but they do require good drainage. If you do not have a high spot, you might want to make a small birm for it. I have just cut all the dead and ugly out of mine and it is blooming again.

I was outside looking for a spot to put it. I have a slight rise just past where my butterfly and hummingbird garden is that would be perfect I think. My hubby wants to put it in the flower bed. I said dear, it filled the whole bed of the truck. I won't be able to have anything else in there with it. How soon he forgets, lol. I could make a small bed for it on that hillside and it would hide my ugly white shed and be close enough to see the butterflies and hummingbirds. I thought about putting it in front of the house where we are ripping out the shrubs but not sure how much larger it going to grow and don't want an issue with it hitting the roof again like the crepe myrtle that someone planted there and I have to remove it. Is it too late to put it in the ground now or should I put in a very large pot til spring?

If it were me, I would go ahead and plant it now! No scientific reason, it just 'feels' right! LOL!

Necia

I will put it in the ground tomorrow. I am concerned that the roots are exposed at the bottom of the pot but I can't dig the hole by myself to plant it. I have it wrapped with a wet towel and in the shade for now. I hope its ok.

I think I would put it in the ground at this time, however, I don't know that the front of the house is the best location. As wonderful as these shrubs are, they may not have year-round appeal for a highly visible spot. They respond really well to hard pruning in spring and require frequent deadheading to keep them groomed for a highly visual spot.....just a thought.
molly

Not enough sun to plant in the front yard anyway I discovered. I decided to plant it in front of my shed in the back yard near my butterfly garden. Thanks for the help. I'm going to prune it up some now because of the size of the rootball and then harder in spring.

I have never had much luck with butterfly bushes - they always seem to get scraggly and not bloom very much. Perhaps Houston's humidity or heat is too much for them.

I bought the first one I had in Houston this spring and it died within about 3 days. I was so aggravated. It was the first plant I ever planted here at my new house. I really want this one to do good. I should have known better since the plant was way in the back of the nursery by a little shed and the guy didn't speak much english that was helping me look for it but I did understand the shed was the "plant hospital" I believe it had root rot already when I bought it. Now that I know what to watch for I check the roots now before I buy anything.

I bought my first (and second) butterfly bush today. One the nursery called big and the other small. I know nothing about them except that they draw butterflies. Question one.. How much sun is required and Question two is are they invasive. (can they be planted over the sewer line or near the house?) Thanks for your help.