Buddleia Pugster Pinker™ Butterfly Bush

A Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Flowering Shrub, Buddleia Pugster Pinker™ is a short, stocky, incredibly cute shrub that only grows about 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. But it blooms in full-sized flowers on new wood and has amazing flower power, blooming and reblooming nonstop throughout the summer, continuing to the first frost. Dense with saturated pink blooms, the extra-large flower spikes are borne on thick, sturdy stems, which improve winter survival in its colder climate range. The flowers are sweetly scented and rich with pollen and nectar, so they're extremely pollinator friendly, attracting tons of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

A Buddleia davidii, commonly called butterfly bush, Pugster Pinker is a charming shrub with a compact, mounding habit that's perfect for small-space gardens. If allowed, butterfly bush will self-seed, so consider placement carefully. Pugster Pinker is a perfect specimen or focal point in a small urban garden, and it makes an excellent thriller for a mixed container garden. Although it still makes quite an impact in a larger garden, this adorable plant is shown to best effect when massed or grouped in the landscape. It works especially well in a mixed bed or border or as edging or ground cover.

Butterfly bush is an easy-grow, easy-care shrub that grows best in sunny locations with a minimum of 8 hours of bright sunlight. Even in warm climates, it should get no fewer than 6 hours of direct sun. They also require soil that is well-drained and will perform best if the base of the plant is positioned a bit higher than the ground when planted, creating a small "hill" to encourage water to drain away from the plant, rather than pooling around it. Avoid mulch around the base of the plant. The plant is drought and heat tolerant, deer resistant, and pet friendly. Deadheading the shrub regularly encourages and prolongs flowering and discourages any unwanted self-seeding. Prune in spring, if desired, after the new growth appears, cutting just above the newly formed buds.

For more in-depth tips on how to get the most out of your buddleia plants, check out our blog: The Ultimate Guide to Growing Buddleia Plants: Tips for Planting and Care. This comprehensive guide covers everything from choosing the perfect spot for your butterfly bush to essential care practices that ensure vibrant blooms and healthy growth. Dive into expert advice and transform your garden with these stunning, pollinator-friendly shrubs.

Note: Fall planting or pruning is not recommended in Zones 5 and colder.

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Shrubs