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The Top Ten Salvias - As
chosen by William Dyson.
William considers the Salvias listed below to be particularly outstanding
amongst a very large genus of versatile plants. There are many more of
great merit. (So he may extend this to his top 20 in due course.)
With the exception of S. leucantha ‘Purple Velvet, all of these plants
will give a magnificent long flowering display, will happily thrive in a
sunny, well-drained position and withstand winter frosts to at least minus
10 degrees, perhaps lower. The Salvia leucantha will need a ‘ride in a
wheelbarrow’ to the greenhouse or conservatory from late October until the
following May but will reward it’s keeper with flowers over much of that
period.
(in alphabetical order)
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Salvia greggii ‘Peach’ AGM
Very clear, deep peachy-coral flowers from June to November.
60cm. Massive flower power; truly outstanding.
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Salvia guaranitica ‘Blue Enigma’ AGM
Much hardier than the above with deep blue flowers and green
calyces from July to November. 1.7m
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Salvia involucrata AGM
Large deep pink flowers from July to November. Has proved to be
reliably hardy with us. 1.5m. Stunning.
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Salvia
involucrata hybrids:
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'Joan'
An excellent plant recently introduced from Australia. Not sure of its
hardiness yet. Rich purplish-pink flowers in summer and autumn. 1.2m
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Salvia x jamensis 'Pat Vlasto’
Peachy-pink flowers from June to November. Pleasantly aromatic
leaves. 70cm.
Salvia
x jamensis 'Peter Vidgeon'
A lovely
selection raised by Robin Middleton and named after a good friend of his. A very
pleasing shade of lilac-pink.
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Salvia leucantha ‘Purple Velvet’
Similar to the typical species except the flowers are deep
purple, produced slightly earlier and in much greater quantity. Probably the
best of the available forms to date. 1.0m |
Salvia microphylla ‘Cerro Potosi’
Large, glowing magenta-pink flowers held well above the leaves.
An excellent long-flowering form. Bushy and very tough. Recommended for exposed
sites.65cm
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Salvia microphylla ‘Hot Lips’
This outrageously spectacular form was found near the Chiapas area of Mexico and
introduced by Richard Turner of the Strybing Arboretum in San Francisco.
It has extremely striking red and white bicoloured flowers; in
the hotter months of summer it may have all red and all white flowers on the
same plant due to the warmer night temperatures but when the night temperature
drops in the autumn months, the flowers will return to their normal bicolour
state. 75cm |
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Salvia ‘Silas Dyson’
Wine purple in bud, the newly opened blooms are rich crimson and
mature to a deep pinkish red. Dark purple calyces. Very floriferous. Raised by
us and probably our best seller. 80cm.
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