Birthday Cake Butterfly Bush is unique in that its flower spikes stand erect on long, sturdy stems well above the foliage, reminiscent of candles on a birthday cake. The large flower spikes, packed with fragrant vibrant purple blooms, age to a lighter purple-pink, start coming in late spring and continue to the first frost in fall in our gardens. The butterflies, hummingbirds, and other beneficial pollinators will thank you for planting this season-long source of sweet nectar. At 4 to 5 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide, Birthday Cake is a fine accent in smaller garden spaces and home foundation plantings, in groupings or as a natural hedge where space allows, or in containers that can be situated on sunny decks, patios or around other outdoor sitting spaces where the flowers and butterflies and hummingbirds feeding can be enjoyed from close up.