Orange Ball Tree

Orange Ball Tree (Buddleja globosa) is a fast growing, adaptable shrub that reaches 5m to 8m tall and 3m to 5m wide. From summer to late autumn it carries round, golden orange, honey scented flower balls that draw bees, butterflies and birds. It is a big plant for a garden with room, and it makes a loose, open hedge.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers unlike other buddleias. Instead of the usual spikes, it carries round clusters of golden orange flowers, with the same honey scent.
• Fast to size. It grows quickly, so a young plant gives height and screening in a few seasons rather than a decade.
• Adaptable. It grows in heat or cold, clay or sand, and sun or part shade, so it is forgiving of ordinary garden soil.
• Frost hardy and heat tolerant. It takes cold winters and hot summers, so it suits a wide range of Australian districts.
• A magnet for wildlife. Bees love the flowers, and butterflies and birds follow, which makes it a good plant near a kitchen garden.

Where it works best

Loose, open hedges. Plant 2.5m apart for a relaxed, flowering hedge. It is open rather than dense, so expect filtered privacy rather than a solid wall, and prune in late winter to hold the height you want.

Large mixed beds and borders. Use it at the back, where its height and rounded flower heads lift lower shrubs and perennials. Allow at least 3m of width.

Kitchen gardens and orchards. Planted beside a vegetable patch or fruit trees, its nectar draws pollinators that help your crops.

Growing Orange Ball Tree in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun is best. It is frost hardy and heat tolerant, so it suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens. It keeps most of its wrinkled, dark green leaves in mild districts and may drop some in a cold winter.

Soil. Free draining soil is the one requirement. Beyond that it is adaptable and grows in clay or sand. Give it plenty of room.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly for around 12 weeks until the plant is established. Fertilise in spring with a slow release fertiliser, and give an extra boost during summer heat with a seaweed tonic.

Pruning. Prune in late winter to reduce its size if you need to. A hedge benefits from an annual trim at the same time, which keeps it dense and manageable.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Orange Ball Tree as tube stock only: a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It arrives as a small, leafy plant, nowhere near its mature 5m to 8m, but it grows fast once planted. Choose the final site carefully, because it is a big plant, then mulch it and water it regularly.

Availability of the tube varies, because it comes from our grower rather than from our own shelves, so it is not always available. When it shows as sold out there is none ready, and the notify button on this page emails you the day it is back.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the buddleja range
• Hedging and screening plants
• Plants that feed bees and butterflies
• How to create and maintain a hedge

Common questions

How big does it really get?

Expect 5m to 8m tall and 3m to 5m wide, so it is a large shrub that behaves like a small tree. It is not for a small garden, but a late winter prune keeps it more manageable.

Is it a weed risk?

It is regarded as non invasive, unlike common butterfly bush, but rules differ between states and councils. Check your local weed list before you plant it.

Will it make a solid hedge?

No. It is a loose, open shrub that gives filtered privacy. For a dense solid wall, choose an evergreen hedging plant.