Caryopteris and buddleia bloom on new wood, not the old wood. This means that if you don't like the way that the plant looks now, you can cut it down to the ground completely and it will bloom on the new wood that it develops this year. You don't really NEED to cut them down to the ground, but if you want the plant to get more flower buds, then I recommend doing so. The best time to do this is in early spring.

I am always surprised at the way the Buddleia come back after drastic pruning. There seems to be bud eyes everywhere. Kinda like an azalea.

My older Butterfly Bushes will be cut low until they prove they can't grow from the old wood. At that point I will allow a bit more to remain just to generate new buds. I don't notice many new canes emerging from the roots.

Harryshoe - I am more worried about the caryopteris, as last year they took forever to branch out and did not look as good as they had before. I was pruning my roses too (I recognize you from the rose forums) - We know our roses will shoot new canes, and we cut a few old canes to the ground. But you never see any new growth from the ground on these shrubs. I was wondering as this base gets woodier and woodier would they just "peter out".

I wonder if anyone prunes them differently, maybe not so low. I know not to prune lavender this hard.

I really enjoy Spring pruning but maybe have been thinking too hard!
Maureen

Last year was an extremely cold and late spring in the east and a cold, cold summer. Everything was late.

Caryopteris seem to peter out after a few years. They produce a good number of seedlings, so simply pull out the old plant and replace with a seedling. It grows fast.

I've had my 5 caryopteris for many, many years.

This thread is eight years old! It is a “real blast from the past” when someone comments on these old threads. I removed the caryopteris probably in 2011 because they were spindly, but perhaps they didn’t get enough sun. Buddleias always come back but they are gone as well because I now think they look trashy.

sergeantcuff - yeah - some of us never give up! Caryopteris like lots of sun and poor, dry soil. I find them to be a real problem solver. Mine are in a raised strip between a fence and a bright concrete driveway. I can go broke paying for water along that strip in the summer, but these guys are happy to be ignored. It is actually the only place in my yard where they have done well. I don't have Buddleias any more either - same reason.