Salvia Gallery
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Salvia squalens
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Native to Peru and Ecuador, this is a tender species which apparently can be variable. My plant has flowered on
and off for most of the year, whether outside or indoors. The foliage is aromatic, but extremely sticky, causing
any debris, insects, etc. which land on it to adhere. The orange flowers are quite large. Salvia squalens seems happy in sun or part-shade, and it is best grown under
cover because of the sticky foliage. It has grown to 3ft x 3ft, and sets seed. Cuttings root easily.
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Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips'
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A vigorous cultivar of S. microphylla, which I introduced to the UK. The bi-coloured flowers are appealing,
though in mid-summer, it can revert to plain white, but as the temperature cools, it reverts back to red and white.
It was discovered in a garden in Mexico a few years ago. I collected seed from this plant at Cabrillo College in
California, and was surprised that most seedlings came true. It has never set seed in my garden, so it is propagated
from cuttings. Cultivation is the same as other microphyllas.
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Salvia guaranitica
from Australia
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This form of S. guaranitica was kindly given to me by Sue Templeton, the Australian Salvia specialist. It only
grows to about 4 ft here, and flowers all summer. The deep blue flowers are considerably larger than those of the
true species. Propagation must be from cuttings. It over-wintered (just!) outside successfully, but I would recommend
taking cuttings as a precaution. Regular watering in a dry summer is advised.
Flowering is from mid-summer until frost.
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Salvia discolor
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A most unusual species from Peru, this is a lax plant ideally suited to hanging baskets, as it is best seen from
below to appreciate its beauty. (Although the famous botanist Christopher Lloyd refers to this salvia as 'A flopping
oddity'!) The foliage is silvery-green, and smells distinctly of blackcurrant. The stems are very sticky, and the
flowers are deep violet...almost black, with a light green calyx. A rather brittle salvia, it is best sheltered
from high winds. Killed at the mention of frost, it must be propagated from cuttings, as it does not set seed here.
Try it in a basket with a lilac-coloured verbena, a great combination!
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Salvia 'Amber'
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This hybrid of S. nubicola x S. flava is from the Dutch plantsman Brian Kabbes. The parents are from China and
other regions in Eastern Asia. Like many hybrids it is a stronger and more floriferous plant than its parents.
The foliage is most attractive, the plant is compact 18in x 18in, and the unusual flowers are produced from June
to September. It will survive outside to -10C, but good drainage is essential.
It can only be propagated from cuttings.
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Salvia buchananii
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This is one of the best Salvias for growing in a container. A small plant with wonderful, large, furry, magenta
flowers, attractive shiny foliage. It originated in Mexico, but has never been seen in the wild. It was found
growing in a garden in Mexico City in the 1950's. Seems to be happy in sun or part-shade, and has proved to be
fairly hardy in the UK. It grows to 1ft. here, but will sprawl to a similar extent. Easy to propagate from
cuttings, and occasionally sets viable seed. It will flower all summer long. A connoisseur's plant.
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Salvia chiapensis
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For me, this is a confused Mexican species. For some years I had S. chiapensis which was a rather sprawling salvia,
flowering for most of the year, always requiring a moist environment. Last year, I was given this plant from the
French specialist, Christian Froissart, which to my amateur eye appeared to be a different species.
It is actually just a different form of S. chiapensis, and has flowered in the greenhouse for most of the winter.
The leaves are much larger and ovate than those of the more usual chiapensis.
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Salvia guaranitica 'Indigo'
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Yet another form of S. guaranitica, this only grows to 4 ft. but it flowers from May until frost. Not as rampant as
other forms of S. guaranitica, and seems to be frost-tender. It is possible that this might be the plant known as
S. guaranitica 'Black and Blue' in the USA and Australia, whereas what has for some years been known as 'Black and Blue'
in the UK...known as Salvia 'Costa Rican Blue' elsewhere, might be a separate species, flowering in late Autumn,
this plant will be shown separately. The 'Indigo' form does not have tuberous roots, just to add to the confusion
in this area, as all the guaraniticas I have grown are tuberous.
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Salvia retinervia
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This is a recently introduced species from the Bolivian cloud forests. I have had only limited experience with this plant. It is obviously very tender,
but the flowers are the most exquisite mid-blue. Not many at any time. The growth and foliage indicates that it must
be closely related to S. orbignaei and S. haenkei....just the blue -coloured flowers are so different. This is a difficult
salvia to grow in the UK. It has flowered erratically throughout the year. It does not set seed here, and cuttings are difficult to root.
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Salvia rubescens
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This is a really unknown, and very difficult species in the UK. Seeds from Seedhunt in California make statuesque
specimens, great silvery foliage..but the plants never flower, and get killed by frost. A fellow enthusiast who has
a National Salvia collection at Kingston Maurward College in Dorset gave me this form of S. rubescens. This seems to
flower all the time, and is stunning! I cannot provide information about this yet, it appears to be a different form
from mine...though it is without doubt preferable.
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Salvia SL411
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As yet, an unidentified species from Peru. This is a fast-growing species which will not withstand any frost.
It will flower in any conditions all summer. Large leaves indicate that it might be related to S. squalens, but
there the similarity ends. Currently being investigated by Dr. James Compton at Reading University and by Christian
Froissart who is the French Salvia expert. Hopefully this will be identified soon, as this is without doubt a very
garden-worthy salvia. Updates to follow. Seems to be difficult to over-winter..happily it sets viable seeds.
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Salvia urica
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Another variable species from Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras, this is a tender shrub with large deep blue flowers,
with an unusual incurved lower lip. It will not survive British winters, but will often seed all over the place.
The tall form (up to 6 ft...best to discard this as it is really a bit weedy) has been offered by Seedhunt as a
short form...forget it! It flowers well, but is a bit of a thug! If you can get a large-flowered 'short-form'
you have a great salvia which will flower all summer, take cuttings and do not rely on seeds.
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