White butterfly bush
Buddleja asiatica

Family: Scrophulariaceae

What it is like

An evergreen, tree like shrub. It grows 3 m high. New shoots are arching and woolly white. The leaves are long and narrow. They are dark green on the upper side and paler underneath. The flowers are in long drooping racemes. They are creamy white. They are fragrant. They flowers grow on last year's growth. The fruit is a capsule and is small and narrowly oval.

There are 90-100 Buddleja species. This one can become invasive. Also put in the family Buddlejaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows from about 80 to 2900 m altitude in Papua New Guinea. It mostly grows in disturbed areas like old gardens and along roadsides. In Pakistan it grows up to 1,600 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 8-12. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, East Africa, Guam, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Sikkim, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The flowers are eaten with meat. The flowers are boiled to make a yellow liquid poured over rice. The root is dried and powdered and and used to make a fermented liquor. The bark is chewed.

It is sold in local markets in China.

Edible parts

Flowers, leaves, caution, roots, bark, leaves - tea

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Agiachita, Bana, Bhati, Bhimsen pate, Dhaula, Dogtail, Gentud ulangan, Karukattaan, Khundamora, Kyaung-migo, Mai-yun-puk, Majitala, Markong-abang, Neemda, Nuneheru-arong, Pondam-kung, Rachawadi pa, Samna-bat, Sau dau chuot, Winter lilac, Wu gu huang teng, Yang-ren, Ya-pun-puk

Synonyms

Also as Buddleia and Buddleya, Buddleja acuminatissima Bt.; Buddleja densiflora Bt.; Buddleja arfakensis Lour.; Buddleja amentacea Kranzl.; Buddleja neemda Ham. ex Roxb.;