Buddleja salviifolia young leaves

Buddleja salviifolia or sagewood is a many-stemmed shrub that sometimes scrambles or becomes a small tree (SA Tree List No. 637). It is widely and successfully established as a garden plant.

In nature it grows widespread in South Africa barring the north-western arid parts. It also occurs in the east of Zimbabwe and in other parts of Africa, particularly Kenya where it resembles another local species, B. polystachya.

The habitat of this species varies from scrub forest, riverine bush, forest margins or it may be found as a pioneer on grassy slopes of the summer rainfall region (Schmidt, et al, 2002; Coates Palgrave, 2002; Noad and Birnie, 1989).