Buddleja australis – Buddleia –

Description

Buddleja – Buddleia – There are about 100 species of fast growing, evergreen, semi evergreen and deciduous shrubs, sometimes short lived trees and climbers and a few herbaceous perennials, in this genus.  Named after seventeenth century English Botanist Adam Buddle.  They occur from river sides, rocky areas, and scrub in Asia, Africa, Madagascar and North and South America.  They are grown for their dense spikes or panicles of small, tubular, usually fragrant flowers in range of colors, from pink, mauve, reddish purple, oranges, and yellows.  They produces large lance shaped to broadly ovate, usually opposite leaves.  All except the climbers are suitable for a mixed or shrub border, or as specimens.  Many are attractive to many insects, especially butterflies. Grow these undemanding, tough plants in fertile, well drained soil in full sun.  Some prefer chalky or limy soils, and are salt tolerant. Prone to capsid bug, caterpillars, weevils, mullein moth, spider mites, fungal leaf spots, and dieback. B. australis – This South American species grows to 12′ feet tall.  It produces heavily veined leaves that are dark green and the yellow or orange-yellow flowers are tightly clustered along the stems. Zones 9-10