Overview
Uses: Outdoor containers, front of the border, small gardens, and pollinator gardens.
Benefits: The most compact Pugster yet, staying just 1–2 feet tall and wide while carrying full-size spikes of vivid magenta-pink flowers from summer into fall. No special watering, deadheading, or fertilizing needed.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–10
Sun: Full Sun
Life Cycle: Deciduous Shrub
Growth Habit: Mounding — extra-compact.
Bloom Color: Vivid Magenta-Pink
Foliage Color: Green
Mature Height: 1–2 feet
Mature Width: 1–2 feet
Bloom Season: Summer to fall
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
Bright pink butterfly bush flowers on a knee-high plant.
Pugster Pico Punch® is the smallest member of the Pugster® series, staying about one to two feet tall and wide. It still carries full-size flower spikes, so a small plant delivers a big show of vivid magenta-pink from summer into fall.
That scale opens up places butterfly bushes rarely fit: patio containers, window boxes on a sturdy sill, the very front of a border, and small urban gardens. Butterflies and bees still find it, which puts them right at eye level beside a seating area.
Like the rest of the series, it grows on thick, sturdy stems that hold the flowers upright and help the plant through winter. It keeps blooming without deadheading and does not need special feeding or watering once established.
Care
Pugster Pico Punch® 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.
It does not need much feeding. If you like, apply a slow release fertilizer once in spring.
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 small size makes it one of the best butterfly bushes for containers. 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 Pico Punch® Butterfly Bush for Sale Online?
Our Pugster Pico Punch® 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 Pico Punch® Butterfly Bush Grow?
Expect about 1 to 2 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide at maturity, in a compact, mounded shape. Space plants about 18 to 24 inches apart for edging or a massed planting.
Additional Information
What is the botanical name of Pugster Pico Punch® Butterfly Bush?
The botanical name is Buddleia Pugster Pico Punch® ‘SMNBDFRI’. It is a Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Flowering Shrub and the most compact plant in the Pugster® series.
What are some common names for this plant?
It is most often called butterfly bush, and is also known as summer lilac.
How does it compare to other Pugster® butterfly bushes?
Most Pugster® selections reach about two feet tall and two to three feet wide. Pico Punch® stays smaller, at one to two feet in each direction, while keeping the series’ full-size flowers and sturdy stems. Browse more Butterfly Bushes.
Will deer eat it?
Deer usually leave butterfly bushes alone, so it is a good choice for sunny spots where deer browse other plants. See our Deer-Resistant Shrubs and Evergreens for more options.
