Salvia canescens var.daghestanica

This pretty Salvia from the Caucasus Mountains near the Black Sea is ideal for a rock garden. Growing to only 1ft, the purple flowers make a good contrast to the basal, silvery-green foliage. Flowering for most of the summer, this must have good drainage and full sun. It is reportedly hardy to -10 degrees, but it is unlikely to survive outside in a British winter as it is too wet. Easily grown from seed, it can be treated as an annual, but potted-up plants kept in the greenhouse during winter will provide a larger plant the following year, if kept dry.