Super Salvias!

Thanks Kristen. I think I will feel same way about it. Can't wait to see it flowering in the summer garden

 

The S.divornum (AKA the stoners delight) cutting that I received late last year is putting on growth.
I'm excited about this one for all the right reasons.................


Said to be tricky to bloom though. Any tips?

 

Longk, that looks a lovely plant

 

It does rather!
Reckon that it may be worth the effort. Likes heat (apparently) so I'll grow it in the g/house.

 

My first Salvia of the year to bloom is my replacement S.discolor....................


It has really grown since I received it.....................

 

This is a unique Salvia. Some like it, some do not. I do. Christopher Lloyd called it "A Flopping Oddity"!!! It is best in a raised basket or large tub, to appreciate it fully. A raised basket at eye level is best. The blackcurrant scent is great! In South America, I have it 6 ft x 6f ft, amazing! But here in a border it would get lost. Difficult to root from cuttings.

Robin.

 

If I was only allowed a handful of plants this would be one of them.

I've thought about that, but it would make winter care difficult.

I was going to ask about that..............

 

It is not at all hardy in the UK.

 

Tell me about it! My first migraine of 2012 coincided with the first frost (just a light one at that) - three years growing died just like that!

 

Here is my S.discolor after a few weeks in a new pot...................




Here is my S.divornum.....................


Needing heat and humidity is only just getting going. The leaves scorch easily though as its natural habitat is the rain forest floor.....................


It has new shoots emerging from the rootstock now....................

 

Seems a bit mealy-mouthed, surprised he minced his words!

Two queries re salvias:

1. I have a salvia-like plant that I got from a cutting nicked outside a fancy restaurant last summer. I think it's a salvia, square-stemmed, a vague rosette of salvia-like leaves with a sparse flowering spike about 2/3' tall. The flowers are a tiny, purply-brown pea-sized cup with two tiny "ears" attached to one side. Sorry not to have a photo but the flowers are so odd I hope someone will recognise it from the description.

2.I have loads of S verticillata seedlings doing very well. Will they flower this year? I sowed them 6 or 8 weeks ago.

 

Sounds a little like one of the Cuphea family.
Here's a photo of "Tiny Mice".................


I could be miles off of course!

 

They are so cute! My flower is much plainer and smaller but essentially the same shape.

Just googled cupheas but can't see a match. I think this will be a species rather than a cultivar because it is a fairly plain and unspectacular thing. Serves me right for stealing a cutting!

 

There are about 200 species alone!

Here's C.ignea...................

 

Aaargh! I just checked what google came up with plus a few popular search terms.