Culture
Grow in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. This evergreen buddleja is winter hardy to USDA Zone 7b. It will die to the ground in St. Louis in winter and unfortunately may not come back from the roots the following spring.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Buddleja loricata is sometimes commonly called the popcorn buddleja because it produces clusters of creamy white summer flowers that resemble popcorn. This is an evergreen butterfly bush that is native to South Africa. It grows as an upright shrub to 4-5’ tall and as wide with a rounded habit. Dark green leaves (3-5” long) are silvery white beneath. Fragrant white flowers in terminal and axillary clusters bloom in summer from the previous year’s wood.
Genus name honors the Reverend Adam Buddle (1660-1715), English botanist and vicar of Farmbridge in Essex.
The genus name is frequently listed today as Buddleia. However, Linnaeus named the genus Buddleja (pronounced with a silent “j”) which is still considered to be the proper spelling (first name survives) according to the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
Where winter hardy, this buddleja provides attractive summer flowers when few other shrubs are in bloom. It makes an excellent addition to borders, cottage gardens or butterfly gardens.