Plant of the month - Salvia
At this time of year, the soft summer pinks have faded, to be replaced with rich-toned jewels shining out from the borders. Salvias are a stand-out plant in a mixed border or pot, which hit their stride in midsummer, lasting well into autumn, so it’s worth the effort to find the salvias which grow best in your garden – you’ll be rewarded with pollinator-friendly, low-maintenance plants which come in a wide variety of colours, bloom for a long time and can be propagated quite easily.
Ornamental salvias are the most widely grown and prized for their brilliant flower colours, and their distinctively unusual flower shapes. There are annual varieties, also known as painted sage or clary, bearing sturdy, colourful bracts in blue, white and pink which can be used for cutting and drying.
Half-hardy salvias are tender perennials: they may come back if offered cold weather protection, but won’t survive prolonged freezing conditions. This includes varieties like ‘Love and Wishes’, ‘Amistad’ and ‘Black and Blue’. It’s a good idea to take cuttings of these to mitigate any winter losses.
Hardy salvias are more shrubby in appearance, with woody branches and small, neat leaves. Unlike the long, tubular flowers of other salvias, these tend to have a long, round or oval lip. The ever-popular ‘Hot Lips’ is a good example of this kind of salvia, with its bi-coloured red and white flowers. ‘Nachtvlinder’ is a particularly beautiful and reliable plant, with deep purple, velvety flowers. It’s easy to look after, responding well to a light prune to encourage it to keep flowering.
One of the best things about salvias is their scent - gently brush the leaves or flowers and the plant releases aromatic oils with a pleasant earthy-aniseed smell. There’s another great reason to grow salvia if you also grow roses: they can help control blackspot and mildew, thanks to the natural fungicide they release when warm. Underplanting roses with salvias is not only a great combination for your border, but it’s also good for the health of your plants.
