SUPER SALVIAS 2020

Sad news for Salvia fans. Robin (Nibor) of Robin's Salvias passed away on Jan 2nd. http://www.robinssalvias.com/?LMCL=IINTSC

 

Salvia guaranitica

 

Salvia corrugata

This is a cutting from last autumn that has been in a cold greenhouse. The parent is outside and this winter hasn't lost it's leaves, however no flowers.

 

Hi @NigelJ - do you find it hardy in normal winters as well? I assume you keep the greenhouse one for insurance...

 

@CarolineL Salvia corrugata is not particularly hardy, it will only take a light frost and really needs a cold greenhouse.
For the first couple of years I did that, then autumn 2018 I took some cuttings and left the parent plant outside, it was fine until we had a couple of frosts in February 2019 when it lost all it's leaves and didn't flower until last November. This year has been so mild it's still got all it's foliage and will hopefully flower mid summer.

 

Yes lots of mine have survived what little frost we had, but many didn't like the wet conditions. I heat an old conservatory (had radiator positioned there when we changed central heating few years ago) and always have half hardy (such as confertiflora) ones in there, but my cold greenhouse houses pots of hardy ones (patens etc) which supplement similar in ground. Some (hotlips) I never bother with, other than mulch of pine needles topped with wood chips from recently felled trees.
My biggest problem is not pruning hard enough in spring! Cuttings of everything mind you as propagator in old conservatory. (Recent purchase of hot box cover from Two Wests a great buy!)
Hope to learn a lot from members here.

 

Gosh @Glynne Williams I never mulched Hotlips even in Nottinghamshire! It seemed to survive everything.

 

Bit of a frost pocket so the lot gets mulched! Agreed that Hot Lips is pretty solid. Once took one to Lowestoft for my mother in law and it just grew and grew! Used to prune in spring with garden shears! LWhen the old woman died it was left there so bet it still survives!
I find different parts of garden here to be more prone to frost so tend to plant different salvias (and other stuff) in different places. Thus Black n Blue enjoys back of house but killed East side. Similarly Amethyst Lips. Also I never leave out stuff that hasn't been in its pot two years. When I buy a new plant (9cm) I cut at least three cuttings straight away before potting newly up! Anyway there does seem to be slight differences between seemingly the same variety. Patens (Oxford blue as I call it!) these days has slightly different size/form. I obviously collect seed and grow in plug trays I get that much and give away. I've yet to get a new variety (red!) but some slight differences which might be down to compost I suppose.

 

Salvia involuctra



Salvia "Amisted"


Salvia guaranitica "Black and Blue"


Salvia greggii seedling



Salvia microphylla "Kew Red"

Salvia microphylla variety not known


Salvia napifolia

Salvia chamaedryoides

 

Salvia "Cerro Potosi"

Salvia wislizeni

 

What a great selection! Have few of them and odd seedlings but presume your un named ones are seedlings? In terms of seedlings I get variety of plants - not enough - producing them (not an inveterate dead header anyway!) Wish I still kept bees! Had lots of Jezebel a couple of years ago all planted out but all reasonably true so no interesting other colours! Buy in a lot of seeds from various places but not brilliant germination this year - could be too much heat this season - mistake on my part i'm sure!

 

Have been looking to photograph my little flowers as seen above! Today with April-like showers they are just sparkling. It'll be the IPad I suppose. Used to have cameras from the film variety to digital sort (dropped on concrete!) so phone gets used sometimes. Cheap one and so almost non-existent clarity! Think I'll get a film for the old Olympus!
Always remember we were burgled some years ago and he left my cameras in a line on the sofa! Police said they were too old!

 

Salvia guaranatica "Black and Blue"

 

A wonderful plant and tall! Never had any seed ….. yet! Seems to be a good year so far as we have about four varieties so far with contributions in labelled paper bags. I've not planted any yet as so many other seeds to sow, though has been very hot in my greenhouse conservatory and lost quite a few digitalis. First time ever! Regarding salvia seed, is it best to sow immediately do you think?