Must-have tree
The false olive (Buddleja saligna ) is a small, slender tree or low-branching dense shrub if not pruned into a single stem specimen. Its leaves are long and narrow with olive-green on top and silvery-white on the flip side. It produces tiny creamy-white flowers in big bunches at the end of its branches and is a sight to behold when in full bloom from spring to summer. As a bonus, it’s local (so very lekker!) and it makes a good topiary tree. It’s also evergreen; fast-growing; frost-, wind- and drought-hardy; and good for small gardens and screening.