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Species salvias - what have you grown?

aachenelf z5 Mpls

18 years ago

I've never been a big fan of salvias, at least the hybrid types you find in every garden center. However, this year I grew the species Salvia coccinea and it turned out to be one of my favorite plants of the summer. Even though I gave up on deadheading it a long time ago, it's still producing flowers like crazy. An added bonus - the hummingbirds just loved it.

What other species salvias have you grown that you think are great performers? I want to try some more of these next year.

Kevin

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Comments (11)

deep___roots
18 years ago
S. Mexicana: from seed. Just planted out 2 small plants.
S. Rubescens: from seed. Big leaves. Black flower stems, bright red flowers. Spreads nicely.
S. Puberula: from UC Berkeley Botanical Garden. Flowers have to be seen to be believed (and it is just starting to flower now). Mine is 5+ feet tall.
I got another from UCBG that has black flower stems & blue flowers. Under 2 feet tall. Another real nice salvia, sorry I don't recall the name of it.
Here in CA, salvias don't seem to mind some shade during the day. In trying to make my garden less reliant on maintenance & water, I've been planting ornamental grasses & salvias. It is really working out well.
Cheers. deep.
crocosmia_mn
18 years ago
I've been enjoying Salvia confertifolia, a tall spikey orange salvia I saw in England and had to have, despite disliking salvias for years. Here it is at Bosvigo in Cornwall -- in my garden it has not fully bloomed yet! But it's six feet tall. On the Salvia forum I was given advice on how to overwinter these monsters -- I hope it works!

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aachenelf z5 Mpls
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks for the suggestions. That is one great looking plant Crocosmia.

K
pam_aa
18 years ago
AachenElf, I love Salvia coccinea too, it never disappoints.
Crocosmia_MN, that Salvia confertifolia looks very cool and IÂm guessing it is a tender perennial. Where do you obtain seed? Does it flower 1st year so we can use it as an annual here in northern US zones?
Very nice pic by the way, the arrangement of plant material and the hot colors are very fetching.
crocosmia_mn
18 years ago
I bought three plants from Digging Dog, planted them around Memorial Day, and it is flowering now but nowhere near in full bloom.

Bosvigo.com shows a few more (but less recent) photos of the garden and it's also shown in Penelope Hobhouse's gardening videos "The Art and Practice of Gardening" ( which people might be tired of hearing me recommend -- sorry!)
pam_aa
18 years ago
Thanks, I'll check it out!
nansgarden
18 years ago
My favorite Salvia is Marble Arch Salvia. It is an annual it is in its peak at this time in my garden here in Colorado. It has been blooming since late July . I love it because it requires so little for so much apeal. The colors are Pink, Blue and white compact shrubby habit. I purchased the seed from Johnny seeds and started them in my greenhouse. For a picture or to read more about this Salvia go to www.johnnyseeds.com
ellen_inmo
18 years ago
Crocosmia, are those orange Dahlias 'Diablos'?? I have 'Diablos' and they are amazing colors on dark foliage. I just love them. That is some great color combinations!! Good job.
crocosmia_mn
18 years ago
Ellen -- I just went to Bosvigo's website to see what that orange dahlia might be. I'm guessing it's "Hallwood Coppernob" (huh?!) but it could be "Autumn Lustre" or even "Orange Mullet." If you're ever in England, this garden is not to be missed, even though it's about as far away from London as you could get!
ellen_inmo
18 years ago
OOps, I overlooked where you said that this was a public garden! I was giving you the credit! Oh well, you can have the credit for the great photo! :)

I am planning to go to England someday for the Chelsea Flower Show. In fact, we were supposed to go there for our honeymoon, but we were scared of going overseas right after 9/11, so we went to Hawaii instead. With airfare going up up up, it may be many more years before I can affored to go. I would love to meet someone who has been there!
ljrmiller
18 years ago
Now I want S. confertifolia. I do not need S. confertifolia. I don't. Nor do I need S. clevelandii, S. carduacea, and I don't know how many others. Like that will stop me next spring?

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