Salvia Gallery
Page 34
Salvia munzii
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This beautiful Salvia comes from South-West California. It does bear a resemblance to S. clevelandii, and the grey-green foliage has a similar pleasant fragrance.
The misty-blue flowers are plentiful from June until August. In the UK, Salvia munzii has proved to be hardier than expected, and will survive mild winters.
It appreciates full sun and a well-drained soil. It may not survive the exceptionally wet conditions of summer 2007, here. This shrub can grow to 5 ft. x 5 ft.
Propagate by seeds or spring cuttings. Photograph kindly supplied by Thierry Guegdes.
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Salvia radula
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This species is a half-hardy perennial from South Africa. It resembles S. disermas, shown on page 19, but I consider it to be altogether more showy. The white
flowers are quite large, and are arranged in whorls around the stem. The plant will grow up to 4 ft. tall. It can be treated as an annual, since flower spikes
will appear within 4-5 months of sowing seed, which is freely produced. The foliage is very aromatic. Free-draining soil in a sunny spot is recommended. It
will probably survive a mild winter.
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Salvia stolonifera
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This Salvia was recently discovered in a cloud forest in the Oaxaca region of Southern Mexico. I have only had this plant for a short time, but is highly
impressive. Huge, deep orange flowers appeared just 4 months after seed was sown. It roots readily from cuttings. A shady area seems to be required. Unlikely
to be hardy here, and no seeds have appeared as yet. It is possible that this Salvia may flower for most of the year. It is currently 18 inches tall, and
growing, but has a tendency to sprawl. This was originally considered to be Salvia oaxacana.
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Salvia officinalis 'Icterina' in flower
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I showed a picture of the variegated foliage of this sage on page 31. I also mentioned that flowers are very rarely seen here. In late June, I visited the Royal
Horticultural Society Gardens at Wisley, in the UK, and noticed this large clump, in full flower. The flowers are a purple-blue colour, and make a nice contrast
to the green and gold foliage. The flowering period is only for a few weeks. It is possible that the abnormally warm and sunny April this year encouraged the plant to flower.
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Salvia curviflora (possibly)
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Another recent discovery from the Tehuacan region of Mexico, this is a beautiful Salvia, which is unlikely to be hardy. It is a very fast grower, having reached
5 ft. in just 4 months. It is an upright plant, with many stems full of flower buds. The large flowers are deep magenta in colour. It should be easy to propagate
from cuttings, as it is doubtful that it will set seed here. Again, the name Salvia curviflora (not to be confused with S. curtiflora) has not been verified.
There is a thought that it could be a form of Salvia littae, but to my amateur eye, it is quite different. The lower lip is noticeably curved.
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Salvia cedrosensis
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This unusual Salvia is found in dry riverbeds and gravel in Baja California. It grows to about 18 x 18 inches. It likes a hot climate, and is unlikely to survive
any frost. The felted leaves are off-white, in colour, and the small flowers are dark blue. It has not been tested in the UK, but it would be highly unlikely to
thrive here. But in a gravelly soil, in a warm greenhouse, it might stand a chance. I am grateful to Michael J. Nehl for allowing me to use his beautiful photograph
of this Salvia.
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Salvia przewalskii
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Commonly found in several regions of China, Salvia przewalskii is a very hardy perennial which flowers during the summer months. The flowers are maroon/purple,
and large. Colour variations can often be found. Long inflorescences appear over a large clump of basal leaves, which can be up to 12 inches long. It can be grown
in full sun or part shade. Regular watering in summer, and well-drained soil are needed. It is dormant in winter. Seeds are produced, but to ensure it does not
hybridise with similar species, it can be propagated by division. There is a new form called Salvia przewalskii var. mandarinorum, which I have not seen.
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Salvia dolichantha
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Closely related to S.przewalskii, described previously, and with which it is frequently confused, Salvia dolichantha has deep purple flowers. Cultivation is
exactly the same as for S. przewalskii. (The plant on the photograph has been tied up, for reasons of space. It does have arching stems.) Salvia dolichantha is
even more inclined to hybridise with other Chinese species, and it is quite likely to be a parent of S. 'Out of the Mist' which was shown on page 15, as the
leaves are identical in size and shape.
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Salvia summa
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This rare little Salvia is found on the Franklin Mountains of Texas, and parts of New Mexico. It requires cool, dry conditions. As it grows out of
limestone rock, a griity compost seems advisable. It is a pretty plant, with long, pale pink flowers. It bears a close resemblance to three other species,
S. roemeriana, S. henryi, and S. davidsonii. But it only grows about 3 inches tall in the UK, and the flowering stems grow horizontally away from the plant.
It is summer-flowering, and seed, which is not always easy to germinate, is freely produced.
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Salvia lavanduloides
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Salvia lavanduloides is a larger relative of Salvia agnes, which was shown on page 4. It is found in Mexico and Central America. It is a tender perennial,
and will occasionally flower before the first frosts. The blue/purple flowers are in congested whorls. There are upright and sprawling forms of this Salvia,
and it is a rather confused species. It will grow about 4 ft. and possibly more. Very attractive when in full flower. Propagation is by cuttings.
My thanks to Jim Curry for allowing me to use his photograph.
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Salvia 'Penny's Smile'
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This new introduction is interesting. Last year I found a few seeds on S. 'Silkes Dream', described on page 13. This particular seedling was the most
vigorous, and the foliage seemed the same as its parent, unlike another which seems to have reverted back to a small orange microphylla. 'Penny's Smile'
is now 4 ft. tall, and totally upright, unlike the somewhat sprawling tendency of SD. The flowers are a gorgeous shade of pink, and are more than one
inch across. I have no idea what the other parent is, as several greggiis/microphyllas were in close proximity, other species also. I suppose a hybrid,
such as SD, can cross with another species?
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Salvia 'Martine'
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This is a recently introduced hybrid, I assume, discovered in Australia. No doubt that Salvia microphylla is involved, but the foliage is strange.
I am not aware of any microphylla with leaves like those of 'Martine'. Salvia microphylla has been responsible for many hybrids...e.g.
involucrata 'Joan', 'Mulberry Jam', and of course, 'Silkes Dream'. It certainly looks like a very nice plant, and I look forward to discovering
more about it. The photograph was very kindly sent to me by Annette Wright, in Australia.
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