Salvia Gallery Page 12 Salvia miltiorrhiza A beautiful salvia from China and Japan, this has proved to be hardy in the UK, as long as good drainage is provided in Winter. This particular salvia is used for medicinal purposes in China. A compact plant here 2ft. x 2ft. it is a delightful plant for the front of a herbaceous border. In bloom from June until September, propagation is from seed, though germination is erratic. Stratification is recommended. Do not let this species dry out in a hot Summer. Salvia graciliramulosa This is a beautiful species found only in the Rio Chico valley in the the Chuquisaca region of Bolivia. It is a neat and compact plant, growing to 2 ft x 2 ft. The large flowers occur from late spring until late autumn. Happiest in partial shade, it is not hardy, and likes to be fairly dry in winter. Cultivation is not easy in the UK as it is prone to botrytis in winter, and spider-mite in summer. It rarely sets seeds, and is one of the most difficult species to propagate from cuttings. Salvia chamaedryoides From Mexico and Texas, this looks like a blue-flowered form of S. greggii. Quite a small plant, growing to about 18 inches, the deep blue flowers are small, but by early July, the whole plant is smothered in blossom. Flowering will continue until frost. It is reasonably hardy, but can suffer some frost damage. It is best not to prune it until Spring. Propagate by cuttings or seed, but it can hybridise with greggii and microphylla types. Grow in a sunny spot. (Some experts believe that this is a hybrid, and that the real S. chamaedryoides has silver leaves....see the next picture.) Salvia chamaedryoides var. isochroma This is the silver-leaved form of S. chamaedryoides, which is only found in Mexico. The combination of blue and silver is a delight. There are at least 2 forms of this, one spreads by underground rhizomes, the other does not. Slightly more sprawling than the green-leaved form, this is an ideal plant for a rockery or container. It grows up to 1ft and can spread to about 18 inches. Best to propagate from cuttings, as seeds that I sowed all reverted to the green-leaved form, probably because I grew both types close to each other. Salvia ringens Salvia ringens is found in the Balkan countries and other parts of Eastern Europe. It is quite hardy and is a good plant for a herbaceous border. The flowers are very similar to those of S. candelabrum, and the foliage is a similar greyish-green. Leafless flowering stems rise to about 4 ft., and the plant is in bloom from June until September. It occasionally sets seed, which germinates erratically, but cuttings can be taken. It grows best in a dry, sunny spot. Salvia pauciserrata subsp. calocalicina This is found in Venezuela, but probably in neighbouring countries also. The flowers are a gentle scarlet, with an unusually-shaped lower lip. It has grown up to 5ft. tall, and is upright, and does not require support. The foliage is shiny and slightly serrated. Last year it did not flower until mid-September, but this year it started to flower in June. It is certainly a frost-tender salvia, so cuttings should be taken. This year it appears to be setting a few seeds. There are, apparently, several forms of S. pauciserrata, but these are not known in the UK. Salvia scutellarioides Native to Ecuador and Colombia, where it is commonly seen along roadsides, this is a vigourous, spreading salvia which roots as the stems trail along the ground. It will only grow to a few inches tall here, but will rapidly spread several feet in all directions in one season. It is a bit shy to flower here, but pleasant, small blue flowers appear in early and late Summer. It can be propagated by cuttings, seed, or from rooted stems along the ground. It is not hardy here, which is probably just as well! Salvia blepharophylla 'Painted Lady' From Mexico, this is an improvement on the species, as the large flowers are the most brilliant scarlet, and the plant is slightly more compact and upright. Flowering the whole Summer, this is a terrific plant for a container, and deserves to be more widely grown. It is less hardy than the species, so cuttings should be taken as an insurance. It will grow to 1ft. x 1ft. It does not seem to have the spreading, underground rhizomes like the species. Salvia flava var. megalantha For years, this lovely Chinese salvia has been known in the UK as Salvia bulleyana. Botanists now say that the correct name is S. flava var. megalantha. This is somewhat confusing. Most of the Chinese salvias hybridise with each other, in fact they are probably even more promiscuous than some of the Mexican species. Whatever it is, this is a lovely, hardy salvia, with bright yellow flowers which have pronounced maroon markings on the lower lip. The only disadavantage is that the flowering season is short...about 4 weeks from mid-June. Propagation is from seed...slow to germinate, but plants will flower in the second year. A small, compact plant. Salvia coccinea 'Lady in Red' A popular cultivar of S. coccinea, this is widely grown as a bedding plant in the UK. A similar form is known as S. pseudococcinea, which can grow twice as high, though I think that the short, compact form is better. This is a bright red form, and flowers throughout Summer, though regular deadheading is necessary. This salvia is widespread throughout Mexico, Southern USA, Central America, and the West Indies. Generally considered to be an annual species, it is actually a perennial in favoured climates. Best treated as an annual, seed is prolific, and the result is a compact plant 1ft. x 1ft. Salvia apiana. (White Sage) This salvia comes from Southern California. Not the easiest salvia to grow in the UK, it is nevertheless quite hardy, provided it has good drainage in Winter. One of the most intensely aromatic of all sages, some people find the fragrance of the foliage unpleasant. I don't particularly like it, but it is not as bad, to my sense of smell, as the scent of S. confertiflora or S. myriantha. The beautiful silvery leaves guarantee a great foliage plant. Flowering in the UK is occasional, but in a good year, huge spikes of slightly dirty white flowers will appear, 4 ft. above the foliage. Slow to root from cuttings, otherwise order seeds from the USA. Very prone to aphids in the greenhouse! Salvia columbariae This is an annual species that is native to New Mexico, California, and Arizona. It has mid-blue flowers, densely packed in glomerules. It will grow up to 2 ft. here, and whilst it is hardly spectacular, it is attractive during the short flowering time...3 weeks from mid-June when sown from seed. This salvia is widely grown in Mexico for its medicinal properties, and the seeds are known as Chia. It reminds me very much of S. carduacea (see page 1), but the whole plant is more discreet.

Click below to contact me: