Much-honored Pugster Amethyst butterfly bush is irresistible to pollinators

Norman Winter
·3 min read
Pugster Amethyst butterfly bush seen here with Supertunias has been chosen as the 2024 Flower of the Year in Japan. Pugsters have now won awards in the United States, Europe and Japan.
Pugster Amethyst butterfly bush seen here with Supertunias has been chosen as the 2024 Flower of the Year in Japan. Pugsters have now won awards in the United States, Europe and Japan.

The beginning of each new year is marked by celebrations ― even in the garden. We have the Pantone color of the Year, ‘Peach Fuzz’; the Proven Winners Annual of the Year, Supertunia Jazzberry petunia; and now, the 2024 Flower of the Year in Japan, the Pugster Amethyst butterfly bush.

The Pugster Amethyst butterfly bush won the prestigious honor from the Japan Flower Selections Association. As a horticulturist, I’m used to thinking we get plants from Japan such as the cherry trees in Macon, Georgia, and Washington, D.C. Then, there are the azaleas and camellias.

But Pugster, the short chubby butterfly bush just won the trifecta with awards in the United States, Europe and Japan. High fives are certainly going around with Proven Winners and Spring Meadow Nursery, and the University of Connecticut for its butterfly bush research. There are high-fives among us gardeners too that have fallen head over heels for Pugster Amethyst in our landscapes.

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This Black Swallowtail finds Pugster Amethyst butterfly bush to be high on the menu.
This Black Swallowtail finds Pugster Amethyst butterfly bush to be high on the menu.

Power to the pollinators

Short, as in 24-inches tall, and chubby flowers are certainly noteworthy attributes in a world where butterfly bushes have reached the second story in height. Then, there is the accompanying fragrance that will sweep you off your feet. Once the bloom, it's an all-out competition to be the butterfly champ in your landscape.

At the Garden Guy’s house, we have seen Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, Black Swallowtails, Pipevine Swallowtails and Spicebush Swallowtails as well as American Lady and Common Buckeyes. Of course, you can expect bees and hummingbirds, too.

The 35-inch-wide spread provides ample opportunity for landscape partnerships and container uses. Over the years, I have grown them surrounded by Supertunia petunias in partnership with Color Coded Orange You Awesome echinacea and with Truffula Pink gomphrena and Limelight Prime hydrangea. Many gardeners haven’t thought of the possibilities with butterfly bush combinations.

This American Lady butterfly visits a Pugster Amethyst butterfly bush creating a natural complementary color scheme with her bright orange color.
This American Lady butterfly visits a Pugster Amethyst butterfly bush creating a natural complementary color scheme with her bright orange color.

One of my favorite attributes, so far, is that they have not been on the deer menu. This year a lot of deer-resistant plants have been eaten. The Pugsters have held strong, however, giving me hope for the future that I can tweak this one bed by using resistant combinations versus applying deer repellants.

Pugster butterfly bushes are recommended for zones 5-9, meaning a huge area of the country can relish in their beauty. There are five varieties or colors from which to choose: Pugster Amethyst, the new Periwinkle, Blue, Pink and White.

This Eastern Tiger Swallowtail visits a Pugster Amethyst blooming in combination with Truffula Pink gomphrena and Limelight Prime hydrangea.
This Eastern Tiger Swallowtail visits a Pugster Amethyst blooming in combination with Truffula Pink gomphrena and Limelight Prime hydrangea.

Pugsters are easy to grow as long as soil drains well

All are considered easy to grow. Give them fertile soil, good drainage with full sun, and you will have garnered the "Green Thumb Award." No longer will you need an acre to grow the butterfly bush or a ladder to see the butterflies. If your soil drains poorly, this is your danger point. Plant them on raised beds and even a little high with the root ball slightly higher than the soil surface. We do this with azaleas, too.

Prune your Pugster butterfly bush in the spring with the initiation of growth. In the hot and humid South, we cut ours back hard. Those of you in the North can leave a little more wood. You are not helping the plant whatsoever by skipping the annual pruning.

Spring is just around the corner so start sourcing your Pugsters and asking your favorite garden center to carry them. Your decision will be how to use them. Use them in the flower garden, butterfly garden and even in containers. Let your creative and artistic abilities go wild; you are the Monet of your garden.

Pugster Amethyst butterfly bush gets 24 inches tall and 36 inches wide making it available for an assortment of flower combinations. This Eastern Tiger Swallowtail visits a Pugster partnership with Color Coded Orange You Awesome echinacea.
Pugster Amethyst butterfly bush gets 24 inches tall and 36 inches wide making it available for an assortment of flower combinations. This Eastern Tiger Swallowtail visits a Pugster partnership with Color Coded Orange You Awesome echinacea.

Follow Norman Winter on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy for more photos and garden inspiration. See more columns by Norman at SavannahNow.com/lifestyle/home-garden/.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Garden Guy celebrates Pugster Amethyst butterfly bush savannah georgia