Originally identified as B. agathosma by Ludwig Diels, it was sunk as Buddleja crispa by Leeuwenberg in 1979,[1] and treated as such in the subsequent Flora of China published in 1996.

Buddleja agathosma is a deciduous shrub of sparse habit which, left unpruned, grows to a large size.

The deeply toothed leaves are initially white, owing to a dense coating of hairs, but ultimately appear greyish; the underside remains white and tomentose The heavily scented perfect flowers appear on the old wood before the leaves at the nodes of the previous year's growth, during April in the UK; the panicles are < 12 cm in length and pale lavender in colour.

[1] The shrub is hardy in southern Britain, although shoots are killed in severe winters.

A specimen is grown as part of the NCCPG national collection of Buddleja at Longstock Park Nursery, near Stockbridge, Hampshire, England.