10 Buddleja loricata - Mountain Sagewood Seeds - Indigenous South African Scented Shrub Tree

Buddleja loricata Seeds

Mountain Sagewood

Buddleja is a genus comprising over 140 species of flowering plants from Asia, Africa and the Americas. The generic name bestowed by Linnaeus posthumously honoured the Reverend Adam Buddle (16621715), an English botanist and rector, at the suggestion of Dr. William Houstoun. The genus Buddleja is now included in the Scrophulariaceae family. Of the approximately 140 species, nearly all are shrubs less than 5 m tall, but a few qualify as trees, the largest reaching 30 m. Both evergreen and deciduous species occur, in tropical and temperate regions respectively. The colour of the flowers varies widely, from mostly pastel pinks and blues in Asia, to vibrant yellows and reds in the New World, while many cultivars have deeper tones. The flowers are generally rich in nectar and often strongly honey-scented.

Buddleja loricata, commonly known as mountain sagewood or bergsaliehout, is an interesting Buddleja for small gardens or town houses, particularly those inland at higher altitudes. It has a tidy, rounded shape, attractive foliage and sweetly scented, creamy white flowers. Mountain sage grows up to 4 m and is either a multi-stemmed, densely bushy shrub or small tree. It has a pale brown bark and its branchlets are sometimes covered in rusty hairs. The wrinkly, narrow leaves are stalked, opposite and simple; medium to dark green above, much paler below and have rusty hairs, a raised midrib and side veins. It is sometimes confused with Buddleja salviifolia, but Buddleja loricata leaves have a more rounded base and have no stipules, just a ridge between the leaves. They are also identified by their rusty hairs.