| Buddleja saligna | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Scrophulariaceae |
| Genus: | Buddleja |
| Species: | B. saligna |
| Binomial name | |
| Buddleja saligna Willd. |
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| Synonyms | |
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Buddleja saligna, the False, or Bastard, Olive, is almost endemic to South Africa where it has a wide distribution. It occurs most often in ravines and against outcrops, and is distributed from coastal elevations to the central plateau at elevations < 2000 m. Like other Buddleja, it is popular with insects owing to its high nectar content.
Contents |
B. saligna is an evergreen shrub or small tree, growing < 15 m in height with a trunk diameter of 40 cm. The bark becomes longitudinally furrowed with age. The branchlets are quadrangular in section, and are winged. The leaves are opposite and narrow, the upper surface medium to dark green, glabrous and smooth, while the underside is clothed in pale stellate hairs. The honey - scented flowers are cream or white, occasionally with a reddish orange throat, appearing as large terminal heads 12 cm × 12 cm in spring and summer. The corollas are 4 mm in length.
B. saligna is hardy and frost resistant. In the UK, a specimen is grown as part of the NCCPG national collection held by Longstock Park Nursery, near Stockbridge, Hampshire. The shrub grows easily in well drained soil, and is notably tolerant of drought.[1]
The tree is in commerce in the UK; vendors can be found in the RHS 'Plantfinder'.