Buddleja globosa - Buddleia globosa - The Orange Ball Tree.

Buddleja globosa is not one of the traditional Butterfly Bush types, but it is a very important member of the Buddleja family. It is semi-evergreen and can reach a height and spread of up to 5 meters.

It flowers in early summer and has round clusters of orange flowers - unlike the arching sprays of the butterfly bushes. The flowers can cloth the bush from top to bottom - not as spectacular as the Buddleja davidii types, but a useful shrub for screening. For most of the year, the foliage will block any distant unsightly objects! The individual leaves have a slight grey down underneath and the leaves can grow to 8 in long, but 6in is the norm.

It does attract insects - bees and butterflies, but not as well as the davidii types.

In heavy snow falls it can be subject to a bit of damage as the snow weighs down the rather brittle branches. Just brush or shake the snow off. In any event, any slight damage will soon repair itself, for it is a strong growing shrub.

It rarely needs pruning, unless it has outgrown its present situation - see here for pruning Buddleja globosa.