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two sizes of black & blue salvia?

14 years ago

I was on the White House garden tour this weekend and in the Rose Garden they had a stunning Black & Blue Salvia that was at least six feet tall, maybe eight. When the park ranger told me what it was I was incredulous because I have grown it and mine stayed pretty short.

Are there two varieties, one tall one short? Or was mine at home just not as happy as the one at the White House?

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Comments (4)

MissMyGardens
14 years ago
Might the Rose Garden be a microclimate that protects the B&B allowing it to grow more lush in all ways?

It's protected from wind and the elements on 3 sides by White House itself, mature shrubs/trees and the connecting covered walkway from White House to West Wing.

I haven't been to the White House since visiting as a Girl Scout back in '64!

The web site 'White House Museum' has an interesting series of photos showing the Rose Garden from 1903 through 2009.

If we were being tended to daily by horticulturists, grounds people, etc. we'd probably stand a little taller too...LOL.

Here is a link that might be useful: White House Museum - Rose Garden
harleylady
14 years ago
I have many Black & Blue (about a dozen), all are divisions from the same original plant I purchased. There is a great deal of variation in size and even some in coloration depending on which part of the garden I have them. Variables are light, amount of water, differences in the amendments in my heavy clay, and some are in bermed beds.
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Hi, Black and Blue is an exceptionally difficult plant to get seed from. Either there is no seed set or the seeds drop out immediately when ripe. This makes sense though because this type of salvia makes tuberous roots. Plants that do that often are less generous with seeds. There are a few things you can do though. One if you've got a good local family owned type nursery that carries Proven Winners annuals, you can ask that they order it for you in the spring. Another is to trade on the Plant Exchange Forum in the spring. People who live down south will have nice sized starts if you have plants to offer in exchange. Lastly, try planting your plants on the south side of your home close to the foundation. I did this a couple years ago with mine and it has come back for me. I originally did this because I figured what the heck either throw it out, or see if it lives. Last year, it grew, but did not bloom(thought it did in the first year in the pot of course.) This year, it has been blooming for a few weeks now and looks great! Hope this helps, Remy
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I looked it up and found they are tuber plants, so I ran outside to grab the "potato Roots" that had been spliced at the time I dug the plant up. I had thrown them in the trash, so I got them out and put them in the garden, it sure would be nice if it grew and I got a new plant!. I pulled the plant out of the bucket of water and replanted it, but moved it over a bit so it is not so crowded next to the other plant and fence. I have been neglecting the garden the past few weeks ( between the rain and the heat and other fun summer activities) so maybe the B&B decline was due to under watering or lack of nutrients from lack of attention and rain wash out. Hopefully she will like her new hole. I added mulch mixed in with the sandy soil and added black Kow, hoping some extra material in the soil will do the plant some good.
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nckvilledudes
14 years ago
I agree with harleylady. I have some in parts of my garden that stay shorter and others that grow taller. I think it is just the variability in the soil fertility, how much I fertilize the different plants, how much water they get, amount of light, etc.
DYH
14 years ago
I have two that were planted in September 08 that are 5 feet tall in only one year. So, I can imagine one getting taller.

Were you allowed to take photos?

Cameron

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