| Buddleja alternifolia | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Scrophulariaceae |
| Genus: | Buddleja |
| Species: | B. alternifolia |
| Binomial name | |
| Buddleja alternifolia Maxim. |
|
Buddleja alternifolia is a species endemic to Kansu, China, where it grows along river banks in thickets at elevations of 1,500 - 4,000 m. First described and named by Carl Maximowicz [1] in 1880, the plant was not introduced to cultivation until 1915, by Purdom and Farrer. [2]
Contents |
B. alternifolia is a vigorous shrub reaching 5 m tall with long, slender, pendulous stems, closely resembling a weeping willow when not in flower. The leaves are alternate, entire, and lanceolate, 4 - 10 cm long by 0.6 - 1 cm wide, glabrous and dark green above. The inflorescences are bright lilac-purple, and comprise flowers so densely crowded in clusters along the branch as to often obscure it. Flowering occurs in early summer; the flowers are fragrant, but less so than other buddlejas such as davidii. [2]
The species has become very common in cultivation, a popular shrub for the larger garden, and is readily available from most garden centres in the UK. Fully hardy, it prefers a sunny position and loamy soil; pruning should immediately follow flowering. Like most buddlejas, the species is easily propagated from cuttings. [2]