Buddleja salviifolia aka Wild Sagewood

Buddleja salviifolia has two common names: South African sagewood and sageleaf butterfly bush. It belongs to Scrophulariaceae, the figwort family. Its home range spans southwest Tanzania to South Africa. It grows on rocky slopes, in woods, and beside rivers. This shrub grows fast and can form a small tree. Such trees have many stems. It keeps its leaves in mild winters but may lose them elsewhere.

Its branches arch to form a loose, weeping shape. The RHS gives a garden size of 8–13 feet [2.5–4 metres] tall and wide. NC State reports plants reaching 26 feet [7.9 metres] both ways. Pale, woolly hairs coat young stems and may turn rusty. Older bark is grey-brown and stringy, or rough with dark strips. The narrow leaves grow in pairs across from each other. Each leaf has a pointed tip. The tops may feel smooth and soft, or rough and wrinkled. Thick, pale hairs coat the leaf backs. These give the leaves a sage-like look.

Small, scented flowers grow in branched groups called panicles. These groups have a narrow or cone-like shape. Each tube-shaped flower has four petals and an orange throat. Blooms range from white to lilac or pale mauve. The RHS gives spring or early summer as bloom time. NC State and Missouri Botanical Garden give May to July. Bees and butterflies feed on the nectar. So do hummingbirds and other visitors. Small, hairy, oval seed cases called capsules follow the blooms. They hold tiny brown seeds with winged edges.

Grow this shrub in full sun, in soil that drains well. It grows in several soil types. These may be acid, neutral, or alkaline. It copes with drought and dry to moist soil. Shield it from cold winds. A warm wall can help it bloom more. Sources give USDA zones 8–11 and the UK rating H4. Guard young plants from frost in their first year. Flowers form on the past year's wood. Prune after bloom to keep its broad, sprawling growth in check.

Use it as a windbreak or in a mixed border. It also suits wildlife gardens and informal planting. Give it space so it does not crowd nearby plants. Few reports note major pest or disease problems. Still, aphids, mites, caterpillars, and other pests may occur. Honey fungus, leaf spot, and viruses may cause disease. Records note the use of fresh or dried leaves in herbal tea. People use roots and leaves in traditional medicine. These uses do not prove safety or show that treatments work. People also use the wood for fishing rods, handles, and gunstocks.