Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Butterfly bushes (Buddleias) like Pugster Periwinkle are aptly named butterfly magnets in the summer landscape. This cute butterfly bush offers big light purple flowers on a small shrub. The flowers attract butterflies, hummingbirds, bees and people with their honey-like fragrance. And you can get all these benefits in a shrub that is drought tolerant and happy in the hot summer sun.
Pugster Periwinkle Butterfly Bush grows to only 2 feet high and about 2 to 3 feet around in a mounded shape. This stocky shape makes it a perfect thriller plant in a butterfly or hummingbird plant container. It can handle cold and heat in zones 5 through 9. Pugster has thick stems that can hold up the large bloom clusters, a cone-shaped bunch of tiny little blossoms. The blooms appear in summer and your Pugster will continue blooming through late summer or fall with no deadheading or effort on your part.
Pugster Periwinkle Butterfly Bush Care
Plant Pugster Periwinkle Butterfly Bush where it can get full sun. Buddleias grow well in poor or average soil with little water or fertilizing, but with good drainage. Just water your butterfly bush a little extra in its first year, especially during peak summer heat. When planting, place the base of the shrub slightly above the soil line. Then, all you have to do is prune the shrub in early spring as soon as you see green leaves forming at the base, cutting just above that new growth.
Pugster Periwinkle Butterfly Bush Spacing
If you want an entire row or border of short and colorful bushes for fragrance and to attract butterflies, plant several Pugster Periwinkle Butterfly Bush plants together. Space them about 3 to 4 feet apart.
Interesting Fact(s) - The name "Pugster" comes from the resemblance to a pug - short, stocky, and cute! There are five varieties we offer: Pugster Amethyst, Pugster Blue, Pugster Periwinkle, Pugster Pink, and Pugster White.
Compare Pugster® Butterfly Bushes
Compare flower color, mature size, and the features that set each Pugster® butterfly bush apart.
| Variety | Flower Color | Mature Size | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rich purple-pink | 1–2' H × 1–2' W | Smallest Pugster® for tight spaces, edging & containers | |
| Amethyst purple | 2' H × 2' W | Soft purple flowers with contrasting warm-colored eyes | |
| Rich pink | 2' H × 2–2.5' W | Saturated pink flowers with contrasting orange eyes | |
| Deep violet-blue | 2' H × 2–3' W | Large violet-blue flower spikes on a compact dwarf shrub | |
| Periwinkle purple | 2' H × 2–3' W | Cool-toned lavender-purple flowers on a low, mounded plant | |
| Soft pink | 2' H × 2–3' W | Classic soft pink Pugster® color with full-sized flower spikes | |
| White | 2' H × 2–3' W | Crisp white flowers for bright contrast in mixed plantings | |
| Purple & white | 2–3' H × 2–3' W | Multicolored flowers that transition from white toward purple |
Pugster Periwinkle® Butterfly Bush Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 5 to 9 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Full Sun (6+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 2 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 2-3 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Mounded
- Water Needs
- Average
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , Purple
- Flower Description
- Purple
- Bloom Time
- Early Summer to Fall
- Blooms On
-
New Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Late winter to early spring, before new growth starts
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Green
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Summer Flowering, Fall Flowering, 3 Season Interest
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Pugster Periwinkle® Butterfly Bush
- Also Known As
- Buddleja
- Botanical Name
- Pugster Periwinkle Buddleia x 'SMNBDO' USPP 28,796
- Brand
- Proven Winners
- Plant Type
- Shrub
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2026 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: OR, WA, AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!