Buddleja axillaris

Buddleja axillaris is a shrub endemic to Madagascar, the Comoro Islands, and Tanzania, growing in forests at elevations of 300-1400 m. The species was first named and described by Carl Ludwig [von Willdenow|Willdenow] in 1827.

Description

Buddleja axillaris is a sarmentose shrub 2-3 m in height, with quadrangular branchlets, often obscurely winged, and white-pubescent. The opposite leaves have thinly coriaceous ovate to narrowly elliptic blades, 6-30 cm long by 2-10 cm wide, acuminate or apiculate, abruptly narrowed at the base, minutely pilose above, but white-tomentose to subglabrous beneath, with mostly shallow crenate - dentate margins. The slender white or occasionally yellow inflorescences are axillary, solitary and thyrsoid 3-14 cm long by 1-4 cm wide, the corollas 5-17 mm long.
The species is considered closely related to B. cuspidata and B. sphaerocalyx.

Buddleja axillaris is not common in cultivation.
Hardiness: United [States Department of Agriculture|USDA] zone 10.