Buddleja megalocephala
Buddleja megalocephala
Buddleja megalocephala
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Description
Buddleja megalocephala is a botanical species of butterfly bush endemic to the high-altitude regions of Guatemala and Mexico. It is a rare plant in cultivation, quite difficult to acclimatise in our latitudes. This Buddleja is characterised by long, woolly leaves that are almost white, borne on very light-coloured stems. Its ball-shaped, yellow flower heads turning to orange resemble Buddleja globosa, but are less abundant. Outside of the most sheltered gardens, it is best to grow it in a container and overwinter it like a citrus tree. Its hardiness is rated at -5 °C.
Buddleja megalocephala grows only in a small highland region from Mount Tacana in Guatemala to the state of Chiapas in Mexico. It is found there in clearings and open areas of evergreen forests at very high altitudes, between 2700 and 4000m, in a humid tropical biotic region. It is a dioecious species; there are male and female plants. In the wild, it forms a tree reaching up to 12m in height with a trunk 65cm in diameter. This species was named and described by the American taxonomist John Donnell Smith in 1897. Recently introduced into cultivation, B. megalocephala has so far only formed large shrubs 2m in height in temperate gardens or under cover. The plants currently available in the trade are, according to some sources, male plants (clone BSWJ 9106).
Buddleja megalocephala shows a somewhat loose, bushy habit, quite poorly branched. Its brownish bark is fissured. It develops robust, quadrangular, hairy twigs, covered with white down. The foliage is theoretically evergreen in winter. The leaves are attached to the branches by a petiole 1 to 2cm long. The leaves are lanceolate or elliptical and measure between 7 and 20cm long and 2 to 6cm wide. The upper surface of the leaves is smooth, and the underside is covered with a thick, almost white down. Flowering takes place in late spring in our climates, around June, and is often not very abundant. The branched inflorescences measure 6 to 20cm long and 8 to 10cm wide in the form of globose heads containing 40 to 50 tiny flowers. Each 'ball' of flowers changes from yellow to orange and then to dark orange before fading.
If your climate allows, use Buddleja megalocephala as a specimen plant to amaze your visitors. Rare plant enthusiasts will also want Buddleja macrostachya and B. colvillei. Elsewhere, it can stand in a large pot on the terrace during summer and spend winter in an orangery or a temperate greenhouse.
Plant habit
Flowering
Foliage
Botanical data
Buddleja
megalocephala
Scrophulariaceae (Buddlejaceae)
South America
Planting and care
Buddleia megalocephala enjoys tropical, fairly warm and humid environments. It dies below -5°C even when mature. For this reason, it is most often grown in a large pot. This allows it to be sheltered from the cold in winter.
Grow this species in full sun or partial shade. It prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Repot in spring every 2-3 years. After repotting, water moderately. Feed in spring and autumn. Avoid feeding in winter. This buddleia does not require any special attention regarding ambient humidity. However, if the air is particularly dry, it is advisable to place a layer of damp clay pebbles at the bottom of the saucer. It can be subject to attacks from aphids, scale insects and cryptogamous diseases.
Planting period
Intended location
Care
Planting & care advice
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Hardiness is the lowest winter temperature a plant can endure without suffering serious damage or even dying. However, hardiness is affected by location (a sheltered area, such as a patio), protection (winter cover) and soil type (hardiness is improved by well-drained soil).
In temperate climates, pruning of spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, spireas, etc.) should be done just after flowering.
Pruning of summer-flowering shrubs (Indian Lilac, Perovskia, etc.) can be done in winter or spring.
In cold regions as well as with frost-sensitive plants, avoid pruning too early when severe frosts may still occur.
The harvesting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions in USDA zone 8 (France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...) fruit and vegetable harvests are likely to be delayed by 3-4 weeks.
In warmer areas (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), harvesting will probably take place earlier, depending on weather conditions.
The sowing periods indicated on our website apply to countries and regions within USDA Zone 8 (France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...), delay any outdoor sowing by 3-4 weeks, or sow under glass.
In warmer climes (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), bring outdoor sowing forward by a few weeks.
The planting period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a (East Coast and Midlands: Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Portlaoise). It will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the north-west (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal, Westport), delay planting by 1 to 2 weeks in spring and bring it forward by 1 to 2 weeks in autumn compared to the dates given, preferably choosing periods without strong winds.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (Wicklow Mountains, Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, Connemara, Killarney), it is best to plant in spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October), avoiding periods of waterlogged soil in winter and strong winds, which pose the main risk to newly planted trees in these areas.
The flowering period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a, such as the East Coast and Midlands, including Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny and Portlaoise.
This will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the northwest (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal and Westport), it will be delayed by one to two weeks compared to the given dates, due to stronger Atlantic winds and less spring sunshine.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (the Wicklow Mountains, the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, Connemara and Killarney), flowering will be delayed by two to three weeks. Flowering mainly occurs between May and July, with the limiting factors being less frost and more of the excessive humidity, strong winds and lack of sunshine that are characteristic of these areas.
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