Buddleja 'West Hill'

Buddleja 'West Hill' is an old hybrid cultivar, a full sister of 'Lochinch' and 'Mayford Purple' raised from a chance seedling found in the garden of the Earl of Stair at Lochinch Castle, Scotland, circa 1940, the shrub's parents believed to be Buddleja davidii and Buddleja fallowiana. 'West Hill' was introduced to commerce by the Sunningdale Nursery in 1959, and accorded the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit, reffirmed in 2010.

Description

'West Hill' is a vigorous shrub with arching branches, growing to a height of 2 m if hard-pruned annually. The large 20 - 30 cm panicles are of a comparatively low density, bestowing a rather open, feathery appearance; the flowers are violet to lilac with orange eyes. The branchlets and leaves are covered with a dense whitish pubescence.

Cultivation

Though eclipsed by 'Lochinch', 'West Hill' is widely cultivated in the USA and the UK. USDA zones 5 - 9.