Salvia Gallery Page 7 Salvia BSWJ 8985 Collected in Guatemala by the plant collectors from Crug Farm Plants in North Wales, this salvia has not yet been identified. Specimens have been given to botanists, and so far, It is considered to be a form of S. polystachya, probably subsp. compacta. This is a tall-growing plant. The flowers are bright, pale blue, and though minute, the large, congested inflorescences are rather grand. The spotted stems are another attraction. Flowered here in Autumn. Tender. Salvia amarissima Native to Mexico, this is a vigorous shrub to 4ft. x 4ft. Not the most spectacular salvia, but the small mid-blue flowers are appealing. This plant will not survive in British winters, but sets lots of seed, and roots easily from cuttings. I have found that this salvia performs best in a moist, shady spot. Bright sunshine tends to cause flower-drop before mid-day, so a brilliant-flowering plant in the morning can result in a dull plant in the afternoon. Detailed investigation of the flowers is recommended, the horizontal lower lip is quite unusual. Salvia dichlamys This arrived in the UK as Salvia c.f. darcyi, for reasons known only to whoever named it as such! This is a great Salvia, flowering throughout summer, though it sulked in the intense heat of 2006. It is slightly brittle, and grows to 4 ft x 4ft, though a far more rampant form has recently been introduced. For some time this was thought to be the real S. pulchella, as was S. univerticillata on page 6. It is quite tender, but can be propagated from seeds or cuttings. Salvia florida A monstrosity from Peru, this has been tentatively named as Salvia florida. It has also been considered to be a form of S. pausiserrata. Well, I am totally confused by this. A tender, winter-flowering salvia, enormous round leaves, it had one large flowering stem in February in my porch, and was 10ft. tall. Obviously in a huge greenhouse at Wisley or Kew, this could be seen to its full advantage. I have suggested this to both, as I am unable to grow this plant due to lack of space. The large flowers were a deep maroon colour, and rather good. (S. gravida seems rather superior.) Salvia mellifera Commonly known as 'Black Sage', this drought-resistant Californian species is rarely seen in the UK. Like many other Californian salvias, it is difficult to get this into flower here, beacuse of the wrong weather conditions in spring. Even in a heated greenhouse, the dark and gloomy days of late winter are likely to prevent flowering buds from forming. This shrub will grow up to 4ft. and has aromatic small leaves. The tightly packed flowers form several glomerules on each stem. Photo courtesy of Michael Charters. Salvia tubiflora For many years, this has been sold in the UK as S. oppositiflora, which is a separate species. S. tubiflora is a tender species from Peru, only about 1ft. in height, but it spreads to about 2ft. A lovely plant, flowering from June to October, in a sunny spot. This could be a good candidate for a hanging basket or container. Foliage is pale green, slightly hairy and silver on the underside, a good contrast to the large, orange flowers. Propagation is by cuttings which should be kept on the dry side in winter, when it can be prone to aphid attacks. Salvia oppositiflora From Peru, this is apparently the real S. oppositiflora. A much taller plant than S. tubiflora, the flowers are in similar, opposite pairs. They are a lighter orange colour, sometimes tinged with pink, and are not as hairy as those of S. tubiflora. The foliage is also quite different. The leaves are more oval in shape, not so hairy, and are not serrated. S. oppositiflora is a new salvia for me, but I think it has great potential. Though tender, it seems to be in flower all year, and has reached a height of over 4 ft. It is quite upright. Easily propagated from cuttings or from seed. Salvia heldreichiana This salvia is a bit of a mystery, and might be a hybrid, as it never sets seed here. From Turkey, and probably related to S. fruticosa. Whatever it might be, it is an asset to a herbaceous border. Totally hardy, the long flowering period is from May until September. The shrub is smothered with branching stems with large purple/blue flowers. The leaves are trisect, grey-green, and aromatic. Propagation is from cuttings, and the plant is best replaced after 3 or 4 years, as the base gets very woody, which can create an untidy appearance. Up to 3 ft. tall with a larger spread. Salvia pennellii (Sp. from Tamaulipas.) From the Tamaulipas region of Mexico, this has tentatively been identified as S. pennellii. In Australia, it has been given the name 'Tammy'. A tender salvia, it flowers in November/December, and will brighten up the greenhouse. Growing up to 4ft. it has lots of violet-blue flowers in this period. After flowering it can be pruned down to new shoots a few inches from the ground. The leaves are long, narrow, and slightly oblong in shape. Salvia darcyi 'Large Form' A splendid Mexican salvia discovered around 1990, this is becoming more well-known in the UK. It has also been known as S. oresbia. It will grow up to 5ft. x 3ft. here and makes a great partner to a blue salvia such as 'Indigo Spires'. Happy in full sun or partial shade, it is hardy to about -6 degrees, resprouting in May. It will flower from July until frost, but earlier-flowering specimens can be obtained by over-wintering cuttings indoors. It occasionally sets seed, which can result in slight variations in the brightness of the red flowers, and also their size. Somewhat brittle, support is helpful. The foliage is very sticky, so care must be taken when it is grown in close proximity to other plants. Salvia 'Phyllis Fancy' A similar hybrid to S. 'Waverly', and maybe from the same parentage. (See page 6.) The furry white flowers are tinged with a lavender-blue blush which becomes more pronounced as the days get shorter. This is probably more vigorous than 'Waverly'. At Cabrillo College in California, I saw a magnificent specimen 8ft x 8ft, smothered in blooms in September. I only recently acquired this salvia, but I am hopeful that it will be more floriferous than its cousin. Though reputed to withstand a degree or two of frost, I will be take cuttings for the winter. Last year's cuttings flowered on and off through the winter. A potentially exciting new salvia for the UK. Salvia hirtella This salvia seems to grow twice as large here as it does in its native habitat in the Cotopaxi province in Ecuador! It is a tender species with bright scarlet flowers, and very glossy foliage. It is unusual in that new stems from the base of the plant are horizontal for about 2 ft. then become erect as flowering buds appear. Just as it is about to flower here, it gets caught by frost. However, cuttings even with flower buds, taken in late summer, will root easily and a more compact plant will flower indoors in late Autumn and Winter. My compact plant was 1ft. x 2ft last winter, the parent was discarded due to its alarming growth.

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