I have walked past this fairly nondescript Buddleja like small tree for about 10 years without giving it much attention when something caught my eye a couple of days ago. From an upright pale corn cob this bottle brush flower with creamy white exerted stamens was showing off, and in late February…. The dark coloured nectar dripped from the open pouches when I picked a flower and recent research has apparently identified several health benefitting compounds useful in this sap and the dark coloured honey made from it. It rather reminded me of any number of Proteaceous shrubs which may have strayed out of the Australian Bush.

It is a relatively common large shrub or small tree in the Himalayan foothills often growing on disturbed ground around villages where it doesn’t seem to be eaten by the farmed animals. It hasn’t been damaged here with cold temperatures but would probably benefit from a sheltered sunny spot or warm wall up country. I’m going to give it more consideration from now on.