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False Olive
Buddleja saligna
SA tree no: 636
English: False Olive, Bastard Olive, Willow Buddleja, Cape Sage
Afrikaans: Saliehout, Witolien, Aasvoëlbos, Bastersalie, Geelbitterbos, Garsalie
Xhosa: Igqutyu
Zulu: Umngwezu
N. Sotho: Mohlaka-leuba
S. Sotho: Lehlaka
Tswana: Motlhakola, Moroka
Venda: Mutaladza
Historical scientific names: Buddleja salicifolia
Misapplied scientific names: Nuxia saligna
Buddleja saligna, commonly known as False Olive or Saliehout, is a popular indigenous evergreen shrub or small to medium-sized tree. It is highly valued for its dense, silvery-grey foliage, graceful weeping habit, and masses of tiny, honey-scented, creamy-white flowers that appear in spring, making it a fantastic addition to any garden or landscape.
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Distinguishing features:
Dense, weeping or arching branches, giving a soft, rounded appearance.
Leaves are narrowly lance-shaped, grey-green, and often slightly hairy, resembling willow or olive leaves.
Produces abundant clusters of small, highly fragrant, creamy-white flowers.
Flowers have a strong, sweet honey scent, especially in full sun.
Evergreen and relatively fast-growing.
Overall appearance:
The False Olive (Buddleja saligna) is an elegant evergreen shrub or small tree that forms a dense, rounded crown with characteristic weeping or arching branches. Its most striking features are its slender, silvery-grey-green leaves and the profusion of tiny, highly fragrant, creamy-white flowers that cover the plant, creating a beautiful spectacle and attracting a buzz of insect life.
Height:
Typically grows 2 to 7 metres tall as a shrub or small tree, but can sometimes reach up to 15 metres in ideal conditions.
Width:
Can spread to a width of 2 to 5 metres, forming a dense, bushy crown.
Leaves:
The leaves are opposite, simple, narrowly lance-shaped (willow-like), typically 3-10 cm long and 0.5-1.5 cm wide. They are dull grey-green to silvery-grey on the upper surface, often slightly hairy or felted, and paler, sometimes whitish, on the underside. The margins are entire (smooth) and rolled under. The leaves can be slightly aromatic when crushed.
Flowers:
The flowers are tiny (about 2-3 mm across), tubular, and creamy-white to pale yellow. They are incredibly fragrant, with a sweet, honey-like scent that can carry on the breeze. The flowers are borne in large, dense, branched sprays (panicles) at the ends of branches, often covering the entire plant in spring. Buddleja saligna flowers are hermaphroditic, containing both male and female reproductive parts.
Flowering season:
Its main flowering season is in spring (around August to November), though it can flower sporadically at other times, especially after good rains.
Fruits:
The fruit is a small, dry, two-lobed capsule, about 2-3 mm long, which splits open to release numerous tiny seeds.
Seeds:
The seeds are very small, winged, and numerous, easily dispersed by wind.
Bark/Stems: The bark is pale grey to light brown, becoming rougher and longitudinally fissured with age. Young stems are covered in fine, whitish hairs, becoming smooth as they mature.
Thorns:
None.
Wood:
The wood is pale yellowish, hard, and close-grained. It is durable and has been traditionally used for fence posts, tool handles, fishing rods, and in small construction. It also makes good firewood.
Roots:
It has a strong, non-aggressive, fibrous root system that makes it good for soil stabilisation and helps it tolerate dry periods once established.
Soil type:
Highly adaptable to a wide range of well-drained soils, including sandy, loamy, and rocky soils. It tolerates poor soil conditions and a range of pH levels.
Aspect:
Thrives in full sun but can tolerate light shade. It is highly drought-tolerant once established and very tolerant of wind. It is also moderately frost-tolerant, especially mature plants, though young plants may need protection in very cold areas.
Ediblity:
Not considered edible for humans.
Toxicity:
No specific toxicity is widely reported. As with any ornamental plant, it is not recommended for consumption.
Uses:
An exceptionally versatile and popular ornamental plant for gardens and landscapes. It is excellent as a feature plant, informal hedge, screen, windbreak, or background plant. Its fast growth and dense habit make it ideal for privacy. It is widely used in rehabilitation projects, particularly in dry or degraded areas, due to its hardiness and ability to attract pollinators. Its sweet-scented flowers make it a great choice for planting near entertainment areas or windows.
Ecology:
The masses of small, fragrant flowers are a massive draw for a wide array of insects, including bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, making it an excellent "butterfly magnet." It is a crucial nectar source, especially in spring. Its dense foliage provides excellent cover and nesting sites for many bird species, including smaller birds, and also shelter for small mammals.
Distribution and habitat:
Buddleja saligna is widely distributed across almost all provinces of South Africa, including the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West, and Gauteng. It is also found in neighbouring countries. It grows in a variety of habitats, including open grasslands, rocky hillsides, forest margins, riverine bush, and savannas, often in dry, arid areas.
Derivation of name:
The genus name Buddleja honours Adam Buddle (1662-1715), an English botanist and clergyman.
The species name saligna is Latin for "willow-like," referring to its narrow leaves that resemble those of willow trees (Salix species).
Common names like "False Olive" or "Witolien" (white olive) refer to its leaf appearance, which can be somewhat similar to an olive tree, and its pale wood. "Saliehout" means "sage wood," referring to the wood's use and the plant's resemblance to some sage species.
Historical aspects:
As one of South Africa's most widespread and adaptable indigenous trees, Buddleja saligna has a long history of use and significance. Indigenous communities traditionally used its hard wood for various implements and for firewood. Its ability to grow in tough conditions has made it a pioneer species in disturbed areas. In modern landscaping, its environmental benefits, such as supporting pollinators and providing habitat, along with its aesthetic appeal and drought tolerance, have cemented its place as a highly valued indigenous plant.
Interesting facts:
This plant is a springtime party zone! When it bursts into flower, it's covered in so many tiny, creamy blooms that the whole plant looks white and smells like pure honey.
It's called "False Olive" because its leaves look a bit like olive tree leaves, but they're not actually related!
It's a champion at attracting butterflies and bees – if you want your garden buzzing with life, this is the plant for you.
Even though it can grow quite big, it's very "water-wise" once it's settled in, making it perfect for our South African climate.
Growing tips:
Propagation: Very easy to propagate from fresh seed, which germinates readily. Also takes well from semi-hardwood cuttings.
Planting: Prefers full sun but can tolerate light shade. Plant in well-drained soil; it is not fussy about soil type.
Watering: Water regularly during its establishment phase (first year). Once established, it is highly drought-tolerant and needs minimal watering.
Frost Protection: Generally moderately frost-tolerant. Young plants may need protection in very cold, exposed areas.
Maintenance: Low maintenance. Can be pruned to shape or to encourage bushier growth. It tolerates heavy pruning if needed for size control or hedging.
This plant is a fantastic alternative for:
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