Buddleia asiatica
| Buddleia asiatica | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen Cross Pollinated | |
| Height: | 10' |
| Width: | 10' |
| Blooms: | Mid Winter-Mid Spring |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Buddleia asiatica (common name: bai bei feng)
Propagation: Seed - cold stratify for 4 weeks at 4°c[1] and surface sow the seed in February/March in a greenhouse[2][3] (the pre-chilling might not be required for this species). Germination usually takes place within 3 - 4 weeks at 21°c[1]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter, planting them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Seedlings are inclined to damp off and so should be watered with care and kept well-ventilated[2].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[4][3]. Use short side-shoots[2]. Very high percentage[3].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 15 - 20cm long, October/November in a frame[5].
Cultivation: Requires a sunny position, succeeding in most reasonably good soils so long as they are well-drained[6][4][7][5]. Prefers a rich loamy soil[4]. Plants are very tolerant of alkaline soils[5].
Of doubtful hardiness in most of Britain, it is likely to be damaged or killed by temperatures lower than 0°c[8]. However, one report says that it succeeds outdoors in southern Cornwall[6] whilst other reports say that it might be hardy on a south or south-west facing wall in the mildest areas of this country[4][9][7][10]. So long as the plant is well mulched it resprouts freely from the base if cut back by severe weather[5].
A very ornamental plant[6], the cut flowers last well in water[5].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[5].
Any pruning is best done after flowering[5].
An excellent plant for bees and butterflies.
Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.
Range: E. Asia - India to the Philippines.
Habitat: Second growth forest, sandy river banks, grass, savannah, landslips and deserted village sites[11][8].
Edibility: The dried and powdered root is used in the preparation of a fermented liquor[12].
Medicinal: The plant has been used as an abortifacient and also in the treatment of skin complaints[13][14]. The juice f the plant is applied as a wash to treat skin diseases[15].
Usage: Wood - tough, moderately hard. It could be used for making walking sticks[16].
Pollinators: Bees, lepidoptera
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Pollution: Tolerates environmental pollution.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Dioecious
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bird, R. Growing from Seed Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan, 1989.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Dirr, Michael and Charles Heuser. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press, 1987.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2. Pan Books, London, 1998.
- ↑ Taylor, Jane. The Milder Garden. Dent, 1990.
- ↑ Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
- ↑ Gamble, James. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, 1972.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
- ↑ Manandhar, N. Medicinal Plants of Nepal Himalaya. Department of Medicinal Plants, 1993.
- ↑ Manandhar, Narayan. Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press, 2002.
- ↑ Gupta, Basant. Forest Flora of Chakrata, Dehra Dun and Saharanpur. Forest Research Institute Press, 1945.