Description
Buddleja madagascariensis [Syn. Buddleja heterophylla, Nicodemia madagascariensis, Adenoplea madagascariensis] | Madagascar Butterfly Bush
Madagascar Butterfly Bush, also commonly called Smoke Bush, and Orange Butterfly Bush, is a fast-growing, straggling or climbing shrub endemic to Madagascar that has elongated, narrowly ovate green and white leaves, velvety white stems, and highly-aromatic orange flower panicles. It outperforms most plants in warmer temperatures in subtropical and tropical regions, particularly with habitats where water and well-drained soil is available. It can grow in disturbed sites, roadsides, waste areas, urban open spaces, riparian zones, forest margins, sand dunes, coastal cliffs, and in ornamental gardens.
If you need a privacy screen or to block an unsightly view in a hurry, this beauty is for you. Within a 3-year period a plant can reach 15′ high and 8′ wide. It can be pruned to form a dense hedge or allowed to branch naturally, forming a rounded arching shape shrub. The beautiful sage green leaves flutter in the breeze revealing the fuzzy white underside of the leaves, which must be where the name ‘Smoke Bush’ comes from.
The flowers are orange to yellow-orange and bloom in late winter and early spring. The fragrance is complex and potent to say the least– most people describe it as gym socks, while others say peppery truffle oil or cat pee, or don’t pick up much aroma at all. To me, its a strong gym socks or halitosis aroma, yet has an appealing sweetness to it, too, and its so curious and unusual that I have to go back for more. In late winter, being one of the first plants to flower, the aroma is always welcome because it is reminiscent of spring and signals that shes near.
Not hardy in many temperate regions, this plant is best grown in a glasshouse, conservatory or against a warm, south-facing wall where it will be protected. When temps dip below 25 F the plant may start to die back to the roots, but will make a strong come back in the spring. Root-hardy to at least 20 F.
Being a dioecious shrub, Madagascar Butterfly Bush requires both sexes to make seed, so this male plant will not set seed in your garden, unless of course you already have a female Buddleja madagascariensis plant on your property. Because it does not set seed, it will put more energy into the flowers.
Plants can be harvested from the wild for use as a traditional herb and as a dye.
We are the ONLY online retailer in the United States to offer this plant.
Type: Perennial
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Mature height: 12-15 ft
Mature width: 5-8 ft
Hardiness zones: 9-11
Quart pot. The rooted plant you will receive will be pruned to 22 inches tall before shipment and will be one of the plants in the photos, or a similar one.
We ship plants orders out on Mondays and Tuesdays only.
*Please note: We cannot ship Buddelja madagascariensis to Hawaii at this time. Checkout is disabled for this product in this state.