Overview
Uses: Pollinator gardens, front of the border, outdoor containers, and low mass plantings.
Benefits: A dwarf butterfly bush with full-size, fragrant, crisp white flower spikes from summer into fall. Thick, sturdy stems give it better winter survival than most dwarf butterfly bushes, and it keeps blooming without deadheading.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–9
Sun: Full Sun
Life Cycle: Deciduous Shrub
Growth Habit: Mounding, Rounded — dwarf and sturdy.
Bloom Color: White
Foliage Color: Green
Mature Height: 2 feet
Mature Width: 2–3 feet
Bloom Season: Summer to fall
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
Full-size white flowers on a butterfly bush small enough for the front of the bed.
Butterfly bushes are loved for their long, fragrant flower spikes, but most grow tall and rangy, and many dwarf types trade away flower size to stay small. Pugster White® keeps full-size blooms on a compact plant about 2 feet tall. Crisp white, sweetly fragrant spikes open in summer and keep coming into fall, brightening the front of a border or a patio pot.
The plant is built differently from older dwarf butterfly bushes. Its stems are thick and sturdy, which helps it come through winter better and holds the flower spikes upright. It also keeps producing new flowers without being deadheaded, though snipping off spent spikes keeps it looking its tidiest.
White flowers seem to glow at dusk, and these carry the sweet scent butterfly bushes are known for. Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds visit through the season, and because the plant stays low, you can watch them up close from a path or patio. Once established, it takes summer heat and dry spells in stride.
Care
Pugster White® Butterfly Bush Care
Plant in full sun. Butterfly bushes need at least six hours of direct sun for strong stems and heavy flowering.
Well-drained soil is essential, especially in winter. Average to lean soil is fine; avoid heavy clay that stays wet, which is the most common cause of winter loss.
Water regularly through the first growing season. Established plants tolerate heat and short dry spells, though they flower best with an occasional deep watering during long droughts.
Feeding needs are light. One application of slow release fertilizer in spring is plenty; too much fertilizer produces leafy growth with fewer flowers.
Wait until new growth appears in spring before pruning, since stems that look bare in early spring often leaf out later than you expect. Then cut the stems back to just above the lowest healthy new shoots and remove any wood that did not leaf out. Deadheading is optional; the plant reblooms on its own.
Growing in Containers
Its compact size makes it a natural fit for a sunny patio container. Use a pot with open drainage and a quality potting mix. Container plants dry out faster than plants in the ground, so check moisture often in hot weather, and feed lightly in spring and again in midsummer, 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 White® Butterfly Bush for Sale Online?
Our Pugster White® 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 White® Butterfly Bush Grow?
Expect about 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide at maturity, in a rounded, mounding shape. Space plants about 2 to 3 feet apart for a low mass planting or edging.
Additional Information
What is the botanical name of Pugster White® Butterfly Bush?
The botanical name is Buddleia Pugster White® ‘SMNBDW’. It is a Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Flowering Shrub from the Pugster® series of compact butterfly bushes.
What are some common names for this plant?
Plants in this group are commonly called butterfly bush or summer lilac.
How is it different from other dwarf butterfly bushes?
Many dwarf butterfly bushes stay small by producing smaller flowers on thinner stems, and some struggle to come back after a cold winter. The Pugster® series pairs full-size flower spikes with thick, sturdy stems on a plant about 2 feet tall, which gives better winter survival and a fuller look. Compare more options in our Butterfly Bushes.
Is Pugster White® Butterfly Bush deer resistant?
Deer seldom browse butterfly bush, so it is a dependable choice where deer visit regularly. No plant is completely deer-proof, and very hungry deer may sample new growth, but it is usually left alone. Browse more Deer-Resistant Shrubs and Evergreens.
