Buddleja perfoliata is endemic to the xerophytic and subzerophytic grasslands of central Mexico at elevations of 1500 – 2700 m. The species was first named and described by Kunth in 1818.

[1][2] Buddleja perfoliata is a small dioecious shrub 0.8 – 2 m tall in the wild, much branched, and with a greyish-black shredding bark.

The young branches are subquadrangular and tomentose, bearing sessile lanceolate to elliptic opposite subcoriaceous leaves, rugose above with dense felt-like tomentum covering both surfaces.

The yellow inflorescences, redolent of sage, are 5 – 25 cm long, comprising 5 – 26 pairs of heads borne in the axils of the leaves, each head about 1 cm in diameter with 30 – 40 flowers.

[2] The species is not known to be in cultivation.