Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Pugster Periwinkle® Butterfly Bush
Buddleia x 'SMNBDO'
- Stay Protected with Plant Sentry ™
Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Pugster Periwinkle® Butterfly Bush - #3 Container is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry is designed to protect both consumers and the nursery trade from invasive plant pests and diseases. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases.
This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.
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Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Shipping
To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.
Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.
Standard Shipping Rates
At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.
From | To | S&H |
---|---|---|
$0 | $19.99 | $24.99 |
$20 | $49.99 | $29.99 |
$50 | $69.99 | $34.99 |
$70 | $99.99 | $39.99 |
$100 | $129.99 | $44.99 |
$130 | $149.99 | $48.99 |
$150 | $150+ | Approx 28% |
Click here to see our full rates
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
#1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
#2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
#3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
#5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
#6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
#7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Highlights
Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Pugster Periwinkle® Butterfly Bush highlights at a glance!
Specifications
Specifications
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Brand
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Botanical Name
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Growing Zones
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Mature Height
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Mature Spread
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Sun ExposureFull Sun
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Moisture
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Soil
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Growth RateMedium
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Flower Color
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Pollinator Friendly
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Pollinator Required
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Fragrant
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Pruning Time
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Bloom PeriodSummer, Fall

Growing Zones 5-9
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!