I have a purple blue variety (about 18inches tall in full sun... taller in shade) that gave me quite a few volunteers this year. I wish I knew the name but I got him years ago when I just wanted flowers that would live and didn't care about names. dk

Hi Neil: I can only tell you my experience so far. The first year I WS'd on April 19 and had germination by April 27, 10 plants from 10 seeds, but the plants took forever to grow. It was June 23 before they were large enough to plant out and they sat there again forever until August. The result was the late blooms as shown in the pic. above, and great difficulty getting viable seeds. The second year I decided to grow them indoors under lights. I usually start them in the warmth of my heat vent, but nothing happened after 7 days. I then moved the little pot under the lights and in 2 days had sprouts. I had to do a few batches to get my quota of 10 seedlings (the late bloom meant many non-viable seeds) but they all showed up in 2-3 days after being put under lights. I was able to plant out a bit earlier and had my first blooms on Aug 1. This year I started my seeds between coffee filters (April 21) and did the 'under the lights' test. Seeds did nothing for 9 days, then put under the lights and germination in 2 days. Germination was again low (25% and 65%) to get my 10 plants but they are now 3 inches tall and will be planted out this weekend. I am very pleased with this result. So my advice is to try to start them indoors if possible so you can get a long enough growing season to give you enjoyable blooms and enough time to set viable seeds. I was always sceptical of instructions which said 'needs light to germinate' as I thought it was obvious, but they seem to need it whether you WS or grow indoors. I would also sow very lightly - just a sprinkling of soil over the seeds. These plants are really incredible: humming birds will fly in front of them for long periods. A certain pair would actually 'dance' in front of them daily. As far as soil is concerned they grew in a narrow bed of 're-claimed lawn' that was amended with a little composted cow manure. They were in full sun until late afternoon and were not fertilized in any way. You may also want to pray for a warm, early spring!!! You are in Zone 5a USA which is probably warms up a bit earlier than we do. If you get seedlings from your present sowing, you will probably get a late bloom, but viable seeds may be a bit 'iffy'. But go for it - they are worth the trouble. Good Luck!! Northerner.

Does anyone have any blue salvia they would like to trade? Thanks!! Check out my trade list!!

Did you ever have any luck finding S. venulosa? Do you still have the divinorum as well?