Buddleja saligna Willd.

false olive

Afr

witolien

isiZulu

iGqeba-elimhlope

IsiXhosa

unGqeba

Description

Family:

Scrophulariaceae

Order:

Lamiales

Description

Buddleja saligna is a hardy, evergreen, fast-growing tree or large shrub with a much-branched crown and drooping branches. It usually reaches 4 – 5 meters, but can grow up to 10 meters in warm, moist areas. The leaves are long, narrow, and dark green above with a whitish, textured underside. The bark is pale grey-brown, fluted, and peels in strips. Masses of tiny, creamy-white, honey-scented flowers appear in dense sprays from spring to summer, attracting a wide variety of insects. The plant is drought-resistant and suitable for a range of soils.

Plant Details

Height

4 - 10 m (depending on conditions)

Thorns

None

Soil

Adaptable; grows in most soils but performs best with added compost and good drainage

Fast (up to 800 mm per year)

Growth Rate

4 - 10 m (depending on conditions)

Size

Several decades

Lifespan

Flower Colour

Flowering Season

, , , ,

Horticultural Zones

Neutral to slightly acidic

pH

Adaptable; grows in most soils but performs best with added compost and good drainage

Soil

Full sun to partial shade

Aspect

High

Frost Tolerance

High

Drought Resistance

Companion Plants

Suitable for mixed indigenous plantings, screens, hedges, and windbreaks; combines well with other drought-tolerant shrubs and trees.

Caterpillars

Supports various Lepidoptera larvae and other insect fauna.

Associations

Descriptions

The profuse, honey-scented flowers produce abundant nectar and pollen, attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. The tree provides shelter and nesting sites for birds and small mammals. Its dense foliage offers protection for wildlife, and the plant is an important pioneer species in disturbed habitats, aiding ecological succession.

Flowers and fruits

Tiny, creamy-white flowers in dense sprays from spring to summer; pollinated by insects. Seeds are minute and develop in small, hairy capsules.

Birds

Attracts insectivorous birds such as robins and apalises due to high insect activity around flowers; provides nesting sites.

By Seeds:

Sow fine seed mixed with sand in trays of well-drained seedling mix; germinates in about four weeks.

By Cuttings:

Easily propagated from semi-hardwood cuttings.

Traditional Uses

Leaves used to treat coughs and colds; roots used as a purgative. Wood used for furniture, fence posts, and fuel.
Not a primary fodder species but can be browsed by livestock in times of scarcity.
Not known to be toxic.
Valuable for rapid screening, erosion control, and as a pioneer species in restoration projects; supports pollinators and increases habitat diversity.

Plant Details

Height

Description

Thorns

Description

Leaves

Description

Size

Growth Form

Size

Size

Size

Lifespan

Size

Flower Colour

Size

Flowering Season

Size

Horticultural Zones

Size

pH

Size

Soil

Size

Aspect

Size

Frost Tolerance

Size

Drought Resistance

Description

DESCRIPTION

Height

DESCRIPTION

Leaves

DESCRIPTION

Thorns

DESCRIPTION

BSS

Ecoscore

Host plant Nectar Grazing

Link to PlantzAfrica.co.za

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Distribution

Companion Plants

Description

Caterpillars

Associations

Leaves

Leaves

Flowers and fruits

Leaves

Birds

Leaves

Mammals

Leaves

By Seeds:

Leaves

By Cuttings:

Leaves

Traditional Uses

traditional uses