Super Salvias - 2016

In Homebase today, they had a large range of Salvias - all £6 for around a 60cm plant, and they had 8 or so varieties, including Blue Note, Amistad and a few other rarely encountered types .

Also, I have a quick question - most of my young Salvia plants (with a few exceptions) are sort of growing more horizontally rather than vertically. The plants in Homebase I mention above were all similar size to mine, but were all growing horizontally! Otherwise mine seem healthy... does anyone know why this might be happening / how to reverse it?

 

I've found that the S.greggii and x jamensis cultivars are more lax in habit than the S.microphylla so I would say that it is just how they are. I could be wrong though.

"Black and Bloom"...............

 

Salvia patens............

 

Salvia urica is a late bloomer but worth the wait...............


Salvia splendens "Yvonnes Giant" is a much larger form of the popular bedding plants that can be bought for a couple of quid for six...........


"Yvonnes Giant" has been doing the rounds in the US amongst Salvia enthusiasts for year now. In an average summer it hits over two metres but in a pants UK summer (as we've had this year) it has only made 1.2 metres.

And another photo of S.oxyphora because I like it!

 

I got a question please.....

Has anyone grown Salvia Lyrata ? I bought some seeds today for S. Lyrata " Purple Volcano " today.

Any tips ?

 

Never grown it but it is more of a foliage plant than one that is grown for its flowers. It may well be shy to bloom anyway like many of the North American species are (for me at least).

 

Salvia "Embers Wish"

 

Salvia confertiflora

 

I have an unknown Salvia very similar to Amistad except the foliage is different and there are slight differences in the inflorescence. I am not sure where it came from, I've taken no cuttings from Amistad so I would appreciate suggestions.
Salvia Amistad

Unknown

Amistad leaf

Unknown leaf

 

Purple Majesty or Black Knight maybe? The lower lip is not so pronounced so if pushed I would say Black Knight but @nibor would have a better idea than me.

 

The growth on mine is rather lank much like yours is. Shame as it's a good bloomer.

 

Better late than never - Salvia involucrata.................

 

When should I prune most Salvias back? Our Amistad (which arrived as a 2 inch plug in late May) is now a 4 foot tall beast, but still full of flowers so will obviously wait until it's finished!

I just wondered when the best time would be?

Also is it probably too late to take cuttings from them now? If so, could I do so in Spring? I want to gift my mum a Amistad plant

 

I don't prune any of mine back until the spring. Is it in the ground?

You could probably strike a cutting now but in my opinion all you'll get is a weak plant that struggles on through the winter.

 

Thanks longk re the cutting - so when in Spring can I attempt it? Also re: the pruning question, all my Salvias are in pots. So I should prune in Spring yes? I'm assuming they'll all be OK overwinter generally then?