Buddleja officinalis is a deciduous early-spring flowering shrub native to west Hubei, Sichuan, and Yunnan provinces in China.

[4] Buddleja officinalis largely resembles the commoner B. davidii in shape and size, growing to less than 2.5 m in height.

The leaves are lanceolate, under 15 cm long, softly pubescent, the upper surface rich green in colour, the underside grey.

[5] Buddleja officinalis is not fully frost hardy, unable to survive temperatures lower than −10° C, and is best grown against a south-facing wall.

In the UK the shrub is often grown as a nectar source for vanessid butterflies such as the peacock on emergence from hibernation.