Mop Top® Fountain Butterfly Bush

Buddleia alternifolia 'SMNBAB'

Proven Winners®

Spring-Blooming Fountain Butterfly Bush with Cascading Lavender Flowers and Weeping Habit
Cold Hardy: Thrives in Zones 4-8
Grows 3-5 ft Tall and Wide
Fragrant Blooms From Late Spring to Early Summer
Pollinator-Friendly Shrub

$26⁸⁹

Shipping calculated at checkout.

In Stock

Enter your ZIP code to check shipping availability.

Find your Growing Zone

Plant Size

Quart Container

Product variants

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 6-12	Week of March 2nd

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 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

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners - www.provenwinners.com

Mop Top® Fountain Butterfly Bush is a garden showstopper unlike any other butterfly bush, it blooms in spring rather than summer, cascading fragrant lavender flower clusters from long, gracefully weeping branches that give the shrub its whimsical, fountain-like silhouette. A Proven Winners selection of Buddleia alternifolia, this compact beauty is a full zone hardier than standard butterfly bushes and arrives at the party just when early-season pollinators need it most.

Unique weeping, fountain-like habit draped in cascading lavender blooms
Blooms in spring, earlier than standard butterfly bushes, feeding early-season pollinators
Sweetly fragrant flowers attract bumblebees, red admirals, and mourning cloak butterflies
Compact 3–5 ft. size, fits beautifully in borders and containers
Hardy to Zone 4, a full zone hardier than Buddleja davidii varieties
Drought tolerant once established; thrives in full sun
Deer resistant with no serious pest or disease issues

Plant Mop Top® Fountain Butterfly Bush in full sun (6+ hours daily) in well-drained soil. Water regularly during establishment, then reduce, it thrives with low to average moisture and tolerates dry conditions well. Prune lightly after spring flowering to maintain shape. Its graceful, weeping form makes it an exceptional specimen plant, a charming container subject, or a flowing addition to a mixed shrub border. Bring this extraordinary early-season bloomer home, order your Mop Top® today!

Free shipping

On all orders over $199
Plant Sentry™

Compliant guaranteed
Easy returns

Hassle free returns policy
Live Chat

Talk to a real person

Growing Zones 4-8

Find Your Growing Zone!

Frequently Asked Questions

What planting zones is the Mop Top® Fountain Butterfly Bush hardy in?

The Mop Top® Fountain Butterfly Bush is hardy in zones 4-8, making it a full zone hardier than standard Buddleja davidii varieties. This increased cold tolerance means it can handle winter temperatures down to -30°F. Plant it in full sun with well-draining soil for best results.

When does the Mop Top® Fountain Butterfly Bush bloom and for how long?

The Mop Top® Fountain Butterfly Bush blooms in spring, earlier than standard butterfly bushes that flower in summer. This unique timing makes it valuable for feeding early-season pollinators when few other nectar sources are available. Prune lightly after flowering to maintain its graceful shape and encourage next year's blooms.

How drought tolerant is the Mop Top® Fountain Butterfly Bush once established?

Mop Top® Fountain Butterfly Bush is highly drought tolerant once established, thriving with low to average moisture. After the first growing season, it handles dry conditions exceptionally well in full sun. Water regularly during establishment, then reduce frequency for best performance.