Common Name: Bai Bei Feng

General Information

Buddleja asiatica is an evergreen shrub or small tree growing from 1 - 8 metres tall[, ].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, perfume, food colouring etc. It is often cultivated as an ornamental from the tropics to the warm temperate zone, the cut flowers last well in water[, ].

Known Hazards

Because of its saponin content, the plant is sometimes used as a fish poison[].

Botanical References

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Range

E. Asia - southern China, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea

Habitat

Second growth forest, sandy river banks, grass, savannah, landslips and deserted village sites[, ]. Open places, edges of open forests, open woodlands; from near sea level to 2,800 metres in southern China[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	3.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Lepidoptera
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant is likely to be damaged or killed by temperatures lower than 0°c[]. So long as the plant is well mulched it resprouts freely from the base if cut back by severe weather[].
Requires a sunny position, succeeding in most reasonably good soils so long as they are well-drained[, , , ]. Prefers a rich loamy soil[]. Plants are very tolerant of alkaline soils[].
The plant has escaped from cultivation and become naturalized in some areas of the tropics. It has been classified as 'invasive' in Hawaii and some other Pacific Islands[].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[].
Any pruning is best done after flowering[].
An excellent plant for bees and butterflies.

Edible Uses

The dried and powdered root is used in the preparation of a fermented liquor[].

The flowers are sometimes cooked and eaten as a flavouring[].
A yellow liquid obtained from boiling the flowers is used as a colouring for rice[].

Medicinal

The plant has been used as an abortifacient and also in the treatment of skin complaints[, ]. The juice f the plant is applied as a wash to treat skin diseases[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is often a natural pioneer of open spaces[].

Other Uses

An essential oil from the plant is used in perfumery[]. A sweet freesia-like fragrance[].

Wood - tough, moderately hard. It could be used for making walking sticks[].
The wood is sometimes used as a fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - cold stratify for 4 weeks at 4°c[] and surface sow the seed in a nursery[, ] (the pre-chilling might not be required for this species). Germination usually takes place within 3 - 4 weeks at 21°c[]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out when large enough. Seedlings are inclined to damp off and so should be watered with care and kept well-ventilated[].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood in a frame[, ]. Use short side-shoots[]. Very high percentage[].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 15 - 20cm long, in a frame[].

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