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South African Sagewood Buddleja salviifolia

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
BUD-lee-uh sal-vee-eye-FOH-lee-uh
Description

Sageleaf Butterfly Bush is a large multi-stemmed shrub or small tree grown for its foliage and its attractive semi-weeping habit. It flowers on previous year's wood so prune right after flowering. Pruning is essential to maintain shape.  This South African species needs well-drained soil in full sun with shelter from cold winds. It is very hardy and may remain evergreen through mild winters but should be protected from frost the first year after planting.  It can be planted as a windbreak, in a mixed shrub border, in a pollinator or sensory garden, or naturalized area of the landscape.  It propagates easily from softwood stem cuttings.  

It grows naturally in forest margins, rocky hillsides, and along stream banks in Africa.

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#weeping#hummingbird friendly#small tree#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#specimen#white flowers#semi-evergreen#purple flowers#fragrant leaves#deciduous shrub#salt tolerant#medicinal#velvety#mixed borders#windbreak#upright form#fast growing#messy#spreading#lavender flowers#mauve flowers#pollinator plant#naturalized area#nectar plant summer#sensory garden#sandy soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#nectar plant late spring#dry soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#shrub borders#hedge#moth friendly#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#weeping#hummingbird friendly#small tree#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#specimen#white flowers#semi-evergreen#purple flowers#fragrant leaves#deciduous shrub#salt tolerant#medicinal#velvety#mixed borders#windbreak#upright form#fast growing#messy#spreading#lavender flowers#mauve flowers#pollinator plant#naturalized area#nectar plant summer#sensory garden#sandy soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#nectar plant late spring#dry soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#shrub borders#hedge#moth friendly#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Buddleja
    Species:
    salviifolia
    Family:
    Scrophulariaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Fresh and dried leaves make an aromatic herbal tea. A decoction of roots is used for coughing and as a remedy for colic. An infusion of the leaves is applied as an eye lotion. Wood is used for fishing rods, knife handles, and gunstocks.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    South Africa
    Distribution:
    Western Cape through the Eastern Cape to Free State, Lesotho, Kwazulu Natal, Swaziland, Northern Province, Mpumalanga, Mozambique, Zimbabwe to tropical Africa
    Wildlife Value:
    Nectar from flowers attracts butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and other pollinators.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Colorful
    Easy to Grow
    Fragrance
    Wildlife Food Source
    Wind Break
    Dimensions:
    Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Multi-stemmed
    Spreading
    Weeping
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12-24 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    The small, ovoid, hairy capsule has a persistent calyx. The tiny seeds are oblong and compressed. and often removed because they are unattractive.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Cream/Tan
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Pale lavender cone-shaped panicles 5" long and 3" wide with 4 petaled tiny flowers. Not as showy as other Buddleja's. Flowers from late spring through summer.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Soft
    Velvety
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Denticulate
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The foliage is dark green with a wrinkled appearance above and dense white to grey hair below, reminiscent of the herb sage. The leaves are long and fairly narrow with a pointed tip.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Brown
    Light Gray
    Red/Burgundy
    Bark Description:
    Grey-brown and stringy. May also be reddish-brown and rough with thin darker strips running more or less lengthwise.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Young stems are covered with white fuzz.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Garden for the Blind
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Hedge
    Screen/Privacy
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Dry Soil
    Salt
    Wind
    Problems:
    Messy