Buddleja crispa
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| Buddleja crispa | ||||||||||||||
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| Buddleja crispa Benth. 1835 |
Buddleja crispa - sometimes called the Himalayan Butterfly Bush - is a species of Buddleja, native to Afghanistan, Bhutan, North India, Nepal, Pakistan and China (Gansu, Sichuan, Xizang). It grows on dry river bottoms, slopes with boulders, exposed cliffs, thickets, at a height of 1400 - 4300 m.[1]
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[edit] Description
It is a deciduous shrub of bushy habit, growing to 3,5 m high, more in diameter. [2] Young twigs and both sides of leaves are covered with a white or tawny, loose felt. Leaves (ovate-)lanceolate, 5 - 12 cm long, 2 - 4,5 cm wide. Petiole 0,6 - 2,5 cm. Flowering February - August [3]. Flowers fragrant, in a terminal panicle 7 - 10 cm high and 5 cm. wide, formed of axillary whorls. Flowers lilac with an orange throat. The flowers are often fragrant, attractive and irresistible to butterflies, bees and other nectar feeding birds and insects.[4]
[edit] Cultivation
Hardiness zone: 8. Buddleja crispa needs a well-drained soil and full sun.
It was first introduced to Western gardens in 1850 [5], but it is not often seen in cultivation. Bean says that it is seen at its best when grown on a wall [6].
It received an Award of Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society in 1961.
At least one cultivar ('Moondance') is known [7].
[edit] References
- ^ Flora of China, vol. 15 (1996): B. crispa
- ^ Bean 1976, vol I, p. 450. The Flora of China gives a height of up to 5 m.
- ^ Flora of China; Bean says June or later; Krüssmann 1984, vol I, p. 242 says July - August; Hillier 1990, p. 47 says late summer; Phillips 1989, p. 209 says: flowers in spring - often before the leaves expand - if not pruned; summer to autumn if pruned in spring."
- ^ A. Mehra et al, Occurrence of Chilli veinal mottle virus in Himalayan butterfly bush (Buddleja crispa) accessed 21 November 2007
- ^ Hillier 1990, p. 47
- ^ Bean shows a b/w-photo (Plate 23) of a beautiful plant, indeed growing against a wall.
- ^ An image is available at Modeste Herwig's Photo Website
[edit] Literature
- Bean, W. J. - Trees & Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles.
- 8th ed. London 1970/(2nd impression 1976) in IV vols. + suppl.; vol. I.
- Flora of China - vol. 15 (1996): online at www.efloras.org
- Hillier's Manual of Trees & Shrubs.
- 5th ed. David&Charles, Newton Abbot / London 1972 - 1990
- Krüssmann, Gerd - Manual of Cultivated Broad-leaved Trees & Shrubs.
- Engl. transl. London 1984 in III vols.; vol. I.
- Phillips, Roger & Martyn Rix - Shrubs; over 1900 shrubs in full-colour photographs.
- Pan Books, London 1989
