South African sagewood
Buddleja salviifolia

Family: Scrophulariaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It is 3-8 m tall. There are often many stems from the base. The branches tend to droop. The bark is reddish brown. The small branches are covered with dense woolly hairs. The leaves are broadly sword shaped. They are 3-14 cm long by 0.7-4 cm wide. They are dark green or grey-green and wrinkled above. Underneath they have rusty of white hairs. The base is lobed. The flowers are white to cream or purple and 10 mm long. They are in heads 12 cm long. The fruit are oval and 4-5 mm long.

There are about 90-100 Buddleja species. They are in the tropics and subtropics. Also put in the family Buddlejaceae.

Where it is found

It is a warm temperate to subtropical plant. They grow at the edges of or in evergreen forest. They also occur on rocky mountain slopes and along watercourses. It needs a light to medium well-drained soil. It needs an open sunny position. It is resistant to drought and frost. In Zimbabwe it grows between 1,200-2,500 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 9-10. Geelong Botanical Gardens. Arboretum Tasmania.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Australia, Botswana, Central Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa (country/location of origin), Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tasmania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

CAUTION: The berries may be poisonous. The flowers and fresh or dried leaves are steeped in water, sweetened with honey and drunk in small doses as a health drink.

Edible parts

Leaves, leaves - tea

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. Plants strike easily from cuttings. Hardwood cuttings treated with rooting hormone is best. They strike after 2-3 weeks. Adult trees can also be transplanted.

They are fast growing.

Its other names

Local names

Chipambati, Ewanci, Ilotana, Lelothwane, Mupambati, Olothana, Sagewood, Umbatae-wepe, Winter Buddleia

Synonyms

Buddleia salvifolia;