Buddleja nivea Duthie

Buddleja nivea is a large, vigorous shrub distinguished by the woolly covering on stems, buds, inflorescences and the underside of the leaves. The foliage can be striking, but the flowers are unremarkable; these are usually mauve-purple, although there is a pink-flowered form (Stuart 2006). First collected by Ernest Wilson in 1903 from west Sichuan, the species was introduced to cultivation by James Veitch & Sons in 1905 (Marquand 1930) – not 1901 as stated in Bean (1981).

Both B. stenostachya and B. nivea var. yunnanensis were considered sufficiently similar to the species to be reduced to synonyms by Leeuwenberg (1979), although both often retain their original designation in collections and the horticultural trade (Stuart 2006). B. stenostachya differs from the holotype of B. nivea in having longer, narrower inflorescences; B. nivea var. yunnanensis differs mostly in scale, growing to 4 m in height and having particularly large, felted leaves, but having no larger or more striking flowers than those of the other types.

All forms of B. nivea are hardy to –15ºC given good growing conditions, but plants will lose their foliage in winters where temperatures are frequently below 0ºC; a limited number of leaves may be retained in mild winters or in sheltered areas. All require similar conditions – full or partial sun and well-drained soil; most soil types are tolerated except heavy clay. Flowering starts slightly earlier than B. davidii (June in the UK) and may persist throughout the summer months.

Although promiscuous, hybridising with many other Himalayan Buddleias, no hybrids of this species are known to be in commerce. Buddleja × alata Rehder & E.H.Wilson herbarium specimens were considered a perfect intermediate of B. nivea and B. albiflora by Leeuwenberg (1979), and hence may be a natural hybrid of the two species, although this remains unconfirmed by any later study; no example is currently known in cultivation.