Buddleja albiflora explained

Buddleja albiflora is a deciduous shrub in the family Scrophulariaceae.^{[1] [2]} It is native to the mountains of central China, where it grows on shrub-clad slopes at altitudes of between 1,000 and 2,000 m. Named rather carelessly by Hemsley, the species was discovered by Henry, and introduced to western cultivation by Wilson in 1900.^[3]

Description

Buddleja albiflora grows to a height of 4 m in the wild, the branches erect and glabrous. The leaves are narrow lanceolate, with a long-tapered point and wedge-shaped base, 10 - 22 cm long by 1 - 6 cm wide, toothed and dark-green, glabrous above in maturity, but covered beneath with a fine silvery-grey felt.^[3] The shrub is similar to B. davidii, but has rounded stems, as opposed to the four-angled of the latter. Despite its specific name, the fragrant flowers are actually pale lilac with orange centres, borne as slender panicles 20 - 45 cm long by 5 cm wide at the base; they are considered inferior to those of B. davidii and thus the plant is comparatively rare in cultivation.^[4] B. albiflora is hexaploid: 2n = 114.^[5]

Cultivation

The shrub is fully hardy in the UK, and features in the NCCPG National Collection of Buddleja held by the Longstock Park Nursery, near Stockbridge.^[6]

Hardiness

USDA zones 6 - 9.^[7]

References

• Hillier & Sons. (1977). Hilliers' Manual of Trees and Shrubs, 4th Edition. David & Charles, Newton Abbot, England. .
• Li, P. T. & Leeuwenberg, A. J. M. (1996). Loganiaceae, in Wu, Z. & Raven, P. (eds) Flora of China, Vol. 15. Science Press, Beijing, and Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis, USA. online at www.efloras.org

Notes and References

1. Web site: Buddleja albiflora Hemsl. . . n.d. . Plants of the World Online . The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . November 23, 2024.
2. Web site: Buddleja albiflora Hemsl. . . n.d. . Catalogue of Life . Species 2000 . November 23, 2024.
3. Bean, W. J. (1981). Trees and shrubs hardy in Great Britain, 7th edition. Murray, London
4. Leeuwenberg, A. J. M. (1979) The Loganiaceae of Africa XVIII Buddleja L. II, Revision of the African & Asiatic species. H. Veenman & Zonen, Wageningen, Nederland..
5. Chen, G, Sun, W-B, & Sun, H. (2007). Ploidy variation in Buddleja L. (Buddlejaceae) in the Sino - Himalayan region and its biogeographical implications. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 2007, 154, 305  - 312. The Linnean Society of London.
6. Moore, P. (2012). Buddleja List 2011-2012 Longstock Park Nursery. Longstock Park, UK.
7. Stuart, D. (2006). Buddlejas. Plant Collector Guide. Timber Press, Oregon, USA.