Should I cut off the brown tips?

You can trim the brown tips off with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. It will not hurt the plant, but it will not fix the underlying cause.

Does the sun cause brown tips?

If the plant is not getting enough water, the intense sun can cause the leaf tips to dry out and turn brown. Ensure your plant is well hydrated during peak summer heat.

Butterfly Bush: brown tips, causes and fixes

Check these first

Check the soil moisture level with your finger.
Examine the drainage around the base of the plant.
Look for signs of wilting in the rest of the foliage.

Likely causes

Inconsistent Watering
Most likely
How to tell: The leaf tips turn brown and crispy while the rest of the leaf looks dry. This happens when the plant goes through cycles of being too dry and then suddenly flooded.
What to do: Establish a consistent routine by watering deeply once the top few inches of soil feel dry. Use a layer of mulch around the base to help the soil retain moisture more evenly.
Root Rot
Possible
How to tell: The tips turn brown and the plant looks wilted even when the soil is wet. The roots may appear dark and mushy if you dig down to inspect them.
What to do: Stop watering immediately and improve the drainage of your soil. If the plant is in a container, ensure it has drainage holes and is not sitting in a saucer of water.

Find out what's wrong with your butterfly bush

The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

When to worry

Minor browning on the very edges of leaves is often just a reaction to a hot day. Worry if the brown areas expand quickly or if the entire leaf turns brown and brittle.

Stopping it coming back

Maintain a steady watering schedule and apply organic mulch to keep the root zone cool and moist.

Keep your butterfly bush healthy from here

Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked. Identification and a health check are free.

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Questions people ask

Should I cut off the brown tips?: You can trim the brown tips off with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. It will not hurt the plant, but it will not fix the underlying cause.
Does the sun cause brown tips?: If the plant is not getting enough water, the intense sun can cause the leaf tips to dry out and turn brown. Ensure your plant is well hydrated during peak summer heat.

Why are my butterfly bush leaves getting brown tips?