About

Buddleja davidii 'Santana' is a deciduous shrub that can grow as tall as 4 meters when not pruned. Its leaves are lanceolate and feature a distinctive variegation, with green margins and golden-yellow centers. From mid- to late summer, this plant produces elongated panicles of red-purple blooms that can reach lengths of up to 50 centimeters, supported by gracefully arching stems.

About the genus

Buddleja comprises evergreen and deciduous shrubs, and in some cases, it can also be found as small trees or scrambling climbers. The foliage consists of simple leaves, and the plants produce clusters of small, tubular flowers that emit a pleasant fragrance.

Growing conditions

Sunlight
Full sun, Partial shade
Soil type
Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisture
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Aspect
South-facing, West-facing, East-facing
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness
H6

Plant details

Plant type
Shrubs
Habit
Bushy
Foliage
Deciduous
Height
2.5-4 metres
Spread
2.5-4 metres
Time to full height
5-10 years
Suggested uses
Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
Fragrance
Flower

Care notes

Cultivation
Performs best when grown in a sunny, well-drained situation. See buddleja cultivation for more detailed advice
Pruning
Pruning group 6
Propagation
Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings
Pest resistance
May be susceptible to aphids, capsid bugs, caterpillars, earwigs, figwort weevils, glasshouse red spider mite, leaf and bud eelworm, and mullein moth
Disease resistance
May be susceptible to honey fungus, fungal leaf spot, and virus diseases