Overview
Uses: Front of the border, outdoor containers, low hedges, and pollinator gardens.
Benefits: A dwarf butterfly bush with full-size, honey-scented periwinkle-purple flowers on a 2-foot plant. Thick, sturdy stems give it better winter survival than other dwarf butterfly bushes, and it blooms all summer without deadheading.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–9
Sun: Full Sun
Life Cycle: Deciduous Shrub
Growth Habit: Mounding — dwarf and stocky.
Bloom Color: Periwinkle-Purple
Foliage Color: Green
Mature Height: 2 feet
Mature Width: 2–3 feet
Bloom Season: Summer to fall
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
Big butterfly bush flowers on a plant small enough for a pot.
Dwarf butterfly bushes often trade away flower size for their compact habit. Pugster Periwinkle® does not. It carries full-size spikes of periwinkle-purple flowers on a stocky plant about two feet tall, so the blooms look generous rather than scaled down.
Flowering starts in summer and continues into fall without deadheading. The cool blue-purple tone works well with silver foliage, pink and white flowers, and other purples, and the honey-scented spikes bring in butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.
Its thick, sturdy stems are the other reason to grow it. They help the plant come through winter better than many dwarf butterfly bushes, and they hold the flowers upright instead of flopping. At two to three feet wide, it fits the front of a border, a small bed, or a patio container.
Care
Pugster Periwinkle® Butterfly Bush Care
Plant in full sun, at least six hours of direct light a day.
Butterfly bushes need well-drained soil and dislike sitting wet, especially in winter. In clay or slow-draining ground, plant slightly high or in a raised bed. Average soil is fine; rich soil is not needed.
Water deeply once or twice a week through the first growing season. Established plants in the ground tolerate dry spells well.
Feeding needs are light. One application of a slow release fertilizer in spring is plenty.
Do not cut back in fall. Wait until spring, when new growth appears along the stems, then cut back to just above that growth and remove any dead wood. Leaving the stems through winter improves survival in colder zones.
Growing in Containers
Its size makes it a natural container plant. Use a pot with good drainage and a quality potting mix. Container plants dry out faster than those in the ground, so check moisture often in summer, and feed lightly each spring, since frequent watering washes nutrients out of the mix. Roots in containers experience greater cold exposure than roots in the ground. Plants hardy in the ground may require winter protection when grown in containers in colder zones.
Size
What Size is the Pugster Periwinkle® Butterfly Bush for Sale Online?
Our Pugster Periwinkle® Butterfly Bush ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. Plants ship dormant or near dormant in the off-season, so they may arrive with few or no leaves. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Pugster Periwinkle® Butterfly Bush Grow?
Expect about 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide at maturity, in a compact, mounded shape. Space plants about 2 to 3 feet apart for a low hedge or massed planting.
Additional Information
What is the botanical name of Pugster Periwinkle® Butterfly Bush?
The botanical name is Buddleia Pugster Periwinkle® ‘SMNBDO’. It is a Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Flowering Shrub from the Pugster® series of dwarf butterfly bushes.
What are some common names for this plant?
It is most often called butterfly bush, and is also known as summer lilac.
How is it different from other dwarf butterfly bushes?
Many dwarf butterfly bushes have small flowers and thin stems. The Pugster® series pairs full-size flower spikes with thick stems, giving better winter survival and a sturdier habit. Browse more Butterfly Bushes.
Is it drought tolerant?
Once established in the ground, yes. It handles dry spells well and usually needs water only during extended drought. See our Drought-Tolerant Plants for more.
