Pugster Blue^® Butterfly Bush Buddleia x

This was my first butterfly bush purchase. I absolutely fell in love and have bought 7 more (each a different variety but mostly in the pugster series) It is so beautiful and the butterflies are always on it. Compact with large blooms just as described. One of my favorite plants in my yard.

I bought two of these on fall clearance last year and they weren't in the best shape, but since I had experience with butterfly bushes as I had one that survived my zone 5B winters for 20 years, I took a chance on them. I do not cut them back in the fall as leaving the stems holds the snow and helps to insulate the plant, plus I also add a layer of shredded leaves. I have clay soil, so I planted them high, and they came through the winter great. They were very late to break dormancy in the Spring much like Rose of Sharon, perennial Hibiscus, etc. as we had a cold Spring which just prolongs that dormancy until the daytime temperatures warm up and are consistent. They are now nice and bushy and in full bloom. I love the color blue of the flowers and the size of the plant. Much easier to place in the garden than the 8-10' tall ones. Also, the rabbits don't seem to like them!

I planted 2 of these last fall and they are doing great here in my zone 8a location. They are growing well and constantly covered in flowers. The butterflies love them and the Pugster Amethyst butterfly bushes I have. I followed your advice and planted them high for good drainage. They get 10+ hours of full sun every day and love it. I highly recommend these plants.

Have 3 of these now, they are the best colour of Buddleja in my opinion and the initial blooms are large, mine were about 7 or 8 inches long. Grew one in a container as a centrepiece and it did very well but did require a small amount of fertiliser in a pot to keep the leaves healthy and green.

Planted Pugster Blue in a sunny location in my butterfly garden in spring of 2022. Loved the plant through the summer and fall. Here in late May of 2023 it is dead to the ground with no signs of life of any kind. Other buddleia are sending new growth from ground up. Nothing from Pugster, and I am afraid it has perished. This may be due to the freakish temperature swing we had here in Cincinnati on Dec.22, 2022, but most other buddleia at least survived at the root level. I will keep it in the ground hoping for regrowth, but confidence is low at this late date. An expensive experiment.