Where would our gardens be without summer salvias? With close to 900 different species, from colourful bedding salvias to hardy perennials, they’re a must-have in summer gardens.
Salvias come in all shapes and sizes, from compact bedding varieties perfect for containers to giants like the striking Salvia ‘Amistad’, reaching 1.2m (4ft) tall. Some, like Salvia ‘Hot Lips’, have intensely fragrant leaves. There are evergreen shrubby varieties, like Salvia officinalis, better known as culinary sage, and even variegated varieties like Salvia ‘Tricolor’ with pink, white and green variegated leaves.
Where to grow salvias
All salvias like the sun and prefer well-drained soil. Most will grow well on poor soils; the only land they don’t do well in is heavy clay. They’re ideal for coastal gardens and cope well with drought conditions. With their spires of vibrantly coloured flowers from mid-summer onwards, salvias look spectacular combined with grasses in prairie planting schemes or adding a splash of colour in a sunny border. Bees and butterflies love the flowers.
How to care for salvias
Salvias don’t need much looking after. Water container-planted salvias regularly, feed fortnightly with a high potash feed to promote flower production and remove faded flowers. Salvias grown in the ground don’t need feeding, but deadheading will help to extend the flowering period.
Bedding salvias are usually grown as annuals, and pulled up and composted in autumn once they have finished flowering. Half-hardy or tender salvias will need winter protection. In mild areas, a thick mulch may be enough to get them through the cold months, but in icy regions, they’re best grown in containers and moved into a frost-free greenhouse over winter.
Hardy perennial salvias can be cut back to ground level in autumn or spring, but the tender varieties should be left until spring. Shrubby varieties can also be lightly pruned in spring to remove any dead or spindly growth. Cut back culinary sage in spring for a fresh crop of tasty young leaves to cook with, but avoid cutting back into old wood.
Six great salvias to grow
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Salvia Black and Bloom – A stunning cultivar with Stalks of dark blue and blue flowers on striking black stems against a backdrop of rich green foliage. A true diva amongst salvias, it grows to an average height of 90 cm.
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Salvia Rose Marvel – A robust perennial plant that blooms with deep rose flowers and purple calyces from early summer through autumn.
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Salvia microphylla ‘Hot Lips’ – a shrubby evergreen variety with vivid red and white flowers and sensationally fragrant foliage. Watch out for their arrival in June!
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Salvia Mystic Spires – A semi-evergreen perennial with deep blue blooms in summer and autumn. It is a hybrid of Salvia 'Indigo Spires' known for its pest resistance, easy care, and low maintenance.
You can find these, and others, in our Centre. Visit us now to see our Summer Range.
