10 False Olive, Witolien Seeds - Buddleja saligna - South African Indigenous Evergreen Tree

Buddleja saligna Seeds

False Olive, Bastard Olive

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.

Fragrant & profusely borne clusters of creamy white, honey scented flowers practically cover this South African indigenous Buddleja from spring to mid-summer. Its easy, fast growing & evergreen. Also cold hardy, drought tolerant & does not have an aggressive root system. It has an attractive form and can be clipped easily to form a quick screen or hedge or just to keep it tidy. It can even be used as a bonsai specimen. Pretty, creamy bark is fluted & peels off in vertical strips. The long, narrow leaves resemble those of an Olive. Grows in most soils but adding compost makes it prettier. Attracts butterflies!