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Buddleja salviifolia

South African sage wood

Semi-evergreen shrub of arching habit, to 3m tall, with sage-like, finely wrinkled, lance-shaped, grey-green leaves. Narrow panicles of small, fragrant pale mauve flowers, orange in the throat, during spring or early summer

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Size
Ultimate height
2.5–4 metres
Time to ultimate height
5–10 years
Ultimate spread
2.5–4 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Purple Grey Silver Green
Summer Purple Grey Silver Green
Autumn Grey Silver Green
Winter Grey Silver Green
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

West–facing or South–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Drought resistance
Yes
Hardiness
H4
Botanical details
Family
Scrophulariaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Semi evergreen
Habit
Bushy, Spreading branched
Genus

Buddleja can be evergreen or deciduous shrubs, occasionally trees or scrambling climbers with simple leaves and panicles of small, tubular fragrant flowers

Name status

Correct

Plant range
E & S Africa

How to grow

Cultivation

Generally best grown by a warm, sunny wall in mild locations where it will produce better flowering. This South African species needs well-drained soil in full sun with shelter from cold winds. See buddleja cultivation for more detailed advice

Propagation

Root semi-ripe cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Coastal
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Gravel garden
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Wall side borders
Pruning

Pruning group 2 after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, capsid bugs, caterpillars, earwigs, figwort weevils, glasshouse red spider mite, leaf and bud eelworm, and mullein moth

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus, fungal leaf spot, and virus diseases

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