Common Name: Mi Meng Hua

General Information

Buddleja officinalis is an evergreen shrub, becoming deciduous towards the limits of its hardiness; it can grow from 1 -4 metres tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for use as a medicine and source of an essential oil. It is grown as an ornamental, valued especially for its winter flowering.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - central and southern China, Myanmar, Vietnam

Habitat

River valleys of Szechwan in dry rocky areas; at elevations up to 1,000 metres[]. Cliffs, scrub and waste places at elevations up to 1,000 metres[]. Forest edges in mountains, thickets on riverbanks; at elevations from 200 - 2,800 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	2.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Lepidoptera
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Buddleia officinalis is only hardy in the milder regions of the temperate zone, where it can tolerate occasional, short-lived temperatures down to about -10°c[, , ]. It will often resprout freely from the base if it is cut back by severe weather[].
Requires a sunny position[, ]. Prefers a rich loamy soil but succeeds in most well-drained soils[, , ]. Very tolerant of alkaline soils[]. Requires a site sheltered from the wind because the leaves are easily damaged[].
A very ornamental plant[], it hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[].
Plants flower on the current years growth and can be pruned back hard after flowering in order to encourage freer flowering[].
An excellent plant for bees and butterflies[].
A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Febrifuge[, ].

The flowers and flower buds are antispasmodic, slightly cholagogue and ophthalmic[]. They have an action similar to vitamin P, reducing the permeability and fragility of the blood vessels of the skin and small intestine[]. They are used in the treatment of various eye problems[, , ]. They are also used in the treatment of gonorrhoea, hepatitis and hernia[].

A decoction of the leaves is used in the treatment of collyrium[]. It is also used in the treatment of gonorrhoea, hepatitis and hernia[].

Other Uses

An essential oil from the flowers is used in perfumery[].

Propagation

Seed - cold stratify for 4 weeks at 4°c[] and surface sow the seed in late winter/early spring in a greenhouse[, ] (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 grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter, planting them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Seedlings are inclined to damp off and so should be watered with care and kept well-ventilated[].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame[, ]. Use short side-shoots[]. Very high percentage[].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 15 - 20cm long, autumn in a frame[].