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Pugster Periwinkle® Butterfly Bush

Buddleia x 'SMNBDO'

Regular price $4371
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Plant Size

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

  • Sunlight: Full sun is essential for this dwarf variety, requiring at least six to eight hours of direct light daily. Less sun leads to leggy growth and significantly fewer purple flower spikes.
  • Soil: Choose a spot with excellent drainage, as these plants will rot in heavy, standing water. For clay-heavy sites, plant in a raised mound or incorporate organic compost to help the soil breathe.

Watering Requirements

Water your new Pugster Periwinkle every few days during its first season to help the root system expand into the surrounding soil. Once established, this shrub is quite drought tolerant and only needs supplemental soaking during extended dry spells. Inconsistent watering during the heat of summer can cause the blooms to wilt prematurely or lead to stress-induced leaf drop.

Pruning Tips

This butterfly bush blooms on new wood, so you should prune it back to about twelve inches high in late winter or early spring before new growth starts. Think of it like a hard reset that encourages the plant to push out the fresh, vigorous stems that carry those oversized flowers. Avoid pruning in the fall because this can leave the plant's structure vulnerable to winter dieback.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer once in early spring as the first green leaves appear. Avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer or fall, as this encourages soft new growth that will not have time to harden off before the first frost. Too much nitrogen at any time can also result in a very green plant with almost no flowers.

Delivery and Shipping

Preorder Shipping Schedule

We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.

Zone 3-4 Week of March 30th
Zone 5 Week of March 16th
Zone 6 Week of March 2nd
Zone 7 Week of February 23rd
Zone 8-12 Week of February 15th


Shipping Rates

Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50 $9.99
$50 - $99.99 $14.99
$100 - $149.99 $16.99
$150 - $198.99 $24.99
$199+ FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners - www.provenwinners.com

Butterfly Bushes are some of the most loved garden plants in modern gardens, as well as hummingbirds, bees, and, of course … butterflies! The problem is that these plants can get to be pretty huge. Six feet tall and just as wide is pretty common. That alone will often take them out of the running for smaller, urban gardens.

Until now!

The Pugster® line of Buddleia that was developed by Proven Winners® ColorChoice® are bred to be naturally dwarf! The Pugster Periwinkle® (Buddleia x 'SMNBDO') only gets a couple of feet tall and wide. This means that these deep lavender flower clusters will fit anywhere in any sized garden!

That is all well and good, but do you have to compromise flower size to get a small-sized shrub? We are happy to report that the answer is no! These little beauties pump out full-sized panicles of honey-scented blooms all summer and into the fall just like their big brothers.

The gorgeous shade of soft, true lavender might fool you. But this is a tough plant with thick, strong stems that can handle even the coldest of zone 5 winters far better than most other dwarf plants! Growing just 1-2 feet in height, Pugster grows 2-3 feet in width.

Planting and Application:

These lovely little dwarf shrubs fit into any sized sunny garden! Smaller urban lots and postage-stamp courtyards, rooftop gardens, and even container gardeners can all enjoy these compact beauties! You'll enjoy blooms through the summer until frost, providing a long-lasting display!

Use these little gems as edging along garden beds, or as a bright ribbon of color winding throughout Perennial and Cottage gardens! Tough enough for the Rock Garden, and pretty enough for Cut Flower gardens, Pugster® is a must-have for the Pollinator border!

You'll have plenty for cutting to bring inside and still have tons left to invite your pollinator friends over for a visit. Even Hummingbirds will stop by to sip the nectar! The scented blossoms will perfume your outdoor garden rooms and patio seating areas!

  • Full-Sized Blooms On True Dwarf Plant
  • Honey Scented Lavender Blooms
  • Gorgeous Blossoms For Bouquets!
  • Attracts Butterflies, Hummingbirds & Pollinators
  • En Masse, Garden Specimen & Container Plant

#ProPlantTips for Care

Pugster is an improved Butterfly Bush variety that is extremely easy to care for with proper site selection. These brilliant ornamentals grow best in full sun, so give them at least six hours of direct sunlight a day for those amazing carmine-red blooms! Plant Buddleias in well-drained soil, because they can't tolerate wet roots.

Apply a 3-4 inch deep layer of arborist mulch over the root system, pulling it back from the stems. In early spring, apply a fertilizer for flowering plants. Follow the directions on the label. We recommend that you supply a medium amount of water regularly. This is especially important during the first season while they are establishing in your garden.

Like all Proven Winners® Buddleias, Pugster doesn't require deadheading to keep blooming all season for you! Prune Butterfly Bush in late winter to the ground in cooler climates, and it will grow again from the crown in spring. But just trim back winter dieback in warmer climates.

  • Full Sun Loving Shrub or Perennial
  • Almost Any Well-Drained Soil Type
  • Moderate to Low Moisture Needs
  • Easy to Grow & Low-Maintenance
  • Rarely Damaged by Deer or Rabbits

Get full-sized flowers on a pint-sized plant! Order your Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Pugster Periwinkle® Butterfly Bushes from Nature Hills Nursery today. Don't wait until we sell out!

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