Buddleja japonica

Buddleja japonica (Japanese buddleia; scientific name: Buddleja japonica) is a cold-hardy, deciduous shrub native to Japan, belonging to the genus Buddleja in the Scrophulariaceae family.
It is also known as Kawara-utsugi (riverbank buddleia) because it grows along riverbanks, and as Kaku-fuji (square wisteria) because its branches are square in cross-section.
It grows wild in sunny mountainous areas from the Tohoku region to the Kinki region and Shikoku.

It reaches a height of 50–150 cm and branches profusely from the base.
The leaves are oblong to narrowly lanceolate, with serrated margins, and are arranged oppositely.
From July to September, it produces 10–30 cm long panicles bearing reddish-purple, tubular flowers that are four-lobed at the tips.
Unfortunately, the entire plant contains toxic saponins.

Flower meanings

Common name: Buddleja japonica
Scientific name: Buddleja japonica
Other names: Fuji-utsugi (Wisteria Spindle Tree), Kawara-utsugi (riverbank buddleia), Kaku-fuji (horned wisteria), Butterfly Bush,
Taxonomic classification: Kingdom Plantae, Angiosperms, Eudicots, Order Lamiales, Family Scrophulariaceae, Genus Buddleja, Species Buddleja japonica,
Native to: Endemic to Japan, Distribution: Tohoku to Kinki, Shikoku; Habitat: Sunny mountainous areas;
Height: 50–150 cm; Branching; Branches: 4-angled;
Leaf length: 8–20 cm; Leaf width: 3–5 cm; Leaf shape: Long-elliptic to narrowly lanceolate; Leaf margin: serrated, Leaf arrangement: opposite,
Flowering period: July–September, Inflorescence: panicle, Inflorescence length: 10–30 cm, Flower color: reddish-purple, Floret shape: tubular with 4-lobed tip, Floret length: 1.5 cm,
Fruit type: capsule, Fruiting period: September–October, Fruit length: 1 cm, Fruit shape: Oval, Number of seeds: Numerous,
Uses: Ornamental tree, furniture wood
Note: The entire plant contains toxic saponins

Related Pages
Japanese Buddleja