Buddleja salviifolia

(L.) Lam.

South African sagewood

Scrophulariaceae Edible: Leaves, Leaves - tea Potential hazards — see below 3,421 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Buddleja salviifolia, common names sage bush and sagewood, is endemic to much of southern and eastern Africa, from Kenya and Angola south, where it grows on rocky hillsides, along forest margins and watercourses. The species was described and named by Lamarck in 1792.

Description

A shrub or small tree. It is 3-8 m tall. There are often many stems from the base. The branches tend to droop. The bark is reddish brown. The small branches are covered with dense woolly hairs. The leaves are broadly sword shaped. They are 3-14 cm long by 0.7-4 cm wide. They are dark green or grey-green and wrinkled above. Underneath they have rusty of white hairs. The base is lobed. The flowers are white to cream or purple and 10 mm long. They are in heads 12 cm long. The fruit are oval and 4-5 mm long.

Edible Uses

The fresh or dried leaves are steeped in water, sweetened with honey, and drunk in small doses as a health drink.

Traditional Uses

CAUTION: The berries may be poisonous. The flowers and fresh or dried leaves are steeped in water, sweetened with honey and drunk in small doses as a health drink.

Known Hazards

The berries may be poisonous.

Distribution

It is a warm temperate to subtropical plant. They grow at the edges of or in evergreen forest. They also occur on rocky mountain slopes and along watercourses. It needs a light to medium well-drained soil. It needs an open sunny position. It is resistant to drought and frost. In Zimbabwe it grows between 1,200-2,500 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 9-10. Geelong Botanical Gardens. Arboretum Tasmania.

Where It Grows

Africa, Angola, Australia, Botswana, Central Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa*, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tasmania, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seeds. Plants strike easily from cuttings. Hardwood cuttings treated with rooting hormone is best. They strike after 2-3 weeks. Adult trees can also be transplanted.

Production

They are fast growing.

Notes

There are about 90-100 Buddleja species. They are in the tropics and subtropics. Also put in the family Buddlejaceae.

Synonyms

Buddleia salvifolia

Also Known As

Chipambati, Ewanci, Ilotana, Lelothwane, Mupambati, Olothana, Sagewood, Umbatae-wepe, Winter Buddleia

References (25)

Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 175
Fox, F. W. & Young, M. E. N., 1982, Food from the Veld. Delta Books. p 257
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Etherington, K., & Imwold, D., (Eds), 2001, Botanica's Trees & Shrubs. The illustrated A-Z of over 8500 trees and shrubs. Random House, Australia. p 147
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 62

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