About Buddleja auriculata Benth.
Buddleja auriculata grows as a large shrub reaching up to 6 meters in height. In the Northern Hemisphere, it flowers from October to December. Its leaves are narrow, lanceolate, and dark green, creating a strong contrast with its inflorescences. The inflorescences are made up of small, loose off-white panicles, with corollas that have yellow throats. The scent of B. auriculata has historically been compared to the fragrance of Chanel No. 5. This shrub is not hardy at temperatures below approximately −10 °C, and grows best when planted against a south-facing wall in temperate climates. In the United Kingdom, it is often planted to provide nectar for red admiral butterflies that are still flying in late autumn. The species is included in the NCCPG National Collection of Buddleja held by Longstock Park Nursery near Stockbridge, though the large specimen growing at this location was killed during the 2010–11 winter, when temperatures dropped to −12 °C. To maintain its shape, the shrub can be lightly pruned each year in spring after it finishes flowering. Propagation from cuttings can be difficult, and it is rated for hardiness in USDA zones 9–10.
