Eared Buddleja

Buddleja auriculata makes a large shrub up to 6 m in height, flowering in the Northern Hemisphere from October to December. The leaves are narrow, lanceolate, and dark green, contrasting strongly with the inflorescences, comprising small, loose, off-white panicles, the corollas with yellow throats, and exuding a scent once compared with Chanel No. 5.

Buddleja auriculata is not hardy below c. −10 °C and best grown against a south-facing wall in temperate climates. In the UK, the shrub is often planted as a source of nectar for red admiral butterflies still on the wing in late autumn. The plant features in the NCCPG National Collection of Buddleja held by the Longstock Park Nursery, near Stockbridge, although the large specimen there was killed during the winter of 2010–11, when temperatures fell to −12 °C. The shrub can be pruned lightly to maintain shape each year in spring after flowering. Propagation from cuttings can be difficult. Hardiness: USDA zones 9–10.

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