- Botanical Name
- ‘Purple/Black and Bloom’, ‘Smokey Jazz’, ‘Honeyeater Falls’: Salvia guarantica.
‘Salvatore Blue’, ‘Amethyst’, ‘Blue Hills’, ‘Ostfriesland’, ‘Tanzerin’, ‘Dear Anja’, ‘Serenade’: S. sylvestris syn. S. nemorosa.
- Velour
- S. leucantha.
‘Oceana Blue’: S. patens.
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Plant Type
- Herbaceous perennial. S. guarantica: Semi Evergreen
- Size (HxW)
- ‘Purple/Black and Bloom’: 90-120cm x 90-120cm. ‘Salvatore Blue’: 25-35cm x 15-25cm. Velour: 70-100cm x 70-100cm. ‘Amethyst’, ‘Serenade’: 50-80cm x 30-60cm. ‘Blue Hills’: 30-40cm x 30-40cm. ‘ Ostfriesland’: 30-60cm x 30-60cm. ‘Tanzerin’, ‘Smokey Jazz’: 60-90cm x 30-80cm. ‘Oceana Blue’: 20-40cm x 20-40cm. ‘Dear Anja’: 60-100cm x 50-60cm. ‘Honeyeater Falls’: 30-60cm x 40-90cm.
- Depth & Spacing
- Plant at the same level as in the pot with roots spread evenly below soil surface. See above for spacing.
- Soil
- Moderately fertile to humus rich, well drained soil. Tolerant of poor soils.
- Aspect
- Full sun to semi shade
- Climate
- Cool to Sub Tropical
- Frost
- Hardy – but if you are somewhere with hard frost it is best to wait until spring to plant.
- Water
- Water to establish (this takes around four weeks of regular watering) then occasionally if rainfall is low. The flowers will last longer if kept relatively moist during the bloom season, though they will tough out dry conditions once established.
- Fertiliser
- A light application of slow release fertiliser in spring.
- Flowering Time
- Late spring to late autumn
- After Flower Care
- Prune lightly after initial flower flush, fertilise and you should have a second flush in a few weeks that lasts into autumn. OR dead head regularly over the flowering season. Then cut back after blooming, generally in early spring (before new growth emerges) to encourage perennial tendencies and bushy growth.
- Notes
- Flowers suitable for picking. Divide as required every 2-3 years. The aromatic foliage attracts bees, butterflies and birds.
