2012 Salvia Calendar is now available to order with 12 new exciting Salvia photo's: see Calendar of Events

 New Salvia Manual  and other books are now available: see Books

                        Plant Information

 SEED LISTING                               

Salvia Seed Available

Salvia seed is collected in the summer months. All seed is kept as fresh as possible. Seed is still available from the season of  Dec 08/ Jan, Feb 09, seed is now just being collected and cleaned from this season of Dec 09 / Jan, Feb2010.

Payment for seed ordered can be by either a money order through the Post Office or Bank or by Money gram for overseas people.

To make the order worthwhile, the order must be $12.00 Aus. or more.

Seed will be sent as soon as possible from when the order is received.

See instructions on seed raising in the propagation notes.

See list of seed in colour order below propagation notes.

 Any plant that produces seed has the potential to become a weed in an ideal environment, but few gardens have ideal soil. Most gardeners enjoy self seeding plants and all Salvias are easy to pull out if found where they are not wanted.                                                                                            

 NOTES ON PROPAGATION :      

Salvias are reasonably easy to propagate and vegetatively is by far the best method to obtain multiple plants, it also ensures that the species you are dealing with comes true to form.

CUTTINGS

Best times are generally Spring, Autumn and Winter for large leaf varieties, small leaved Salvias are best taken in Spring and Summer or when the sap is "running"

.

Tip Cuttings: Young growth, where stems have not hardened too much (stem flexible without snapping). There is a lot of success when the stem is cut through the node, this really helps with hollow stem varieties.

Side Shoots: Small side shoots can also be taken and young growth from the base of the plant, this applies to all bushy, herbaceous and tall shrubby species.

Division:  Herbaceous perennials and basal clumps can be divided after the worst of winter and as the new shoots start to appear. Divide clumps either in half or quarters, depending on size and quantity of  new shoots.

Seeds:  While this may bring quick results in propagation for mass quantity it is not always the best method if you are wanting a plant species to come 'true'.

Cross pollination can lead to many varied cultivars and hybrids. Not all salvias cross, there are

many that do come true from seed. 

Sow seed in Spring to Autumn, in friable soil, sow seed directly on top of soil, don’t cover with soil, keep moist but not wet and warm but not hot, best in filtered light. Cover pot with fly wire to protect germinating seed from being eaten.

Seed Germination Tips:

Often some seeds can be difficult to germinate without a little help. But a tip use frequently by someone who raises quite a lot of seed. This person uses Epsom Salts. She puts a teaspoon of Epsom Salts in a spray bottle full of water to dissolve, spraying the pots immediately after sowing and once or twice before germinating, but not after they have started to appear. The Magnesium in the salts must help the seed to overcome dormancy.

Smokey Water:

Smokey water is often used in the form of diluted Regen 2000 Smoke Master solution from TREEMAX. This is often used by Nurseries and Botanic Gardens  to help overcome the dormancy in some very difficult seeds.

NOTES ON PRUNING      

Tip pruning for compact growth, at any time after planting out.

Most salvias can be pruned back by 1/3 after flowering, removing spent flowering stems as they finish can result in a second flush of flowers.

Heavier pruning will eventually be needed, this is best done by removing the oldest stems or if you are unsure, cut out every 2nd or 3rd stem.

Many salvias will show signs of new growth lower down the stems, after the flowering season has finished, this can be a good indication of where to prune.

Some salvias can die off  if pruned too hard when there are no signs of regrowth along the stems especially with the tropical species.

Herbaceous perennials are cut down after they have finished flowering when the  plants start to look shabby.

Salvia Seed Available

Red Salvias

S. coccinea ( red) -  Although an annual in colder climates, this grows as a perennial here in Victoria and will last for at least 2 years with a little pruning after the main flowering has finished. A tall plant about 60- 80 x  30-40, that provide numerous long bright red flowering  stems and provide copious amounts of seed. It looks wonderful planted in a row .

Some say it is a weed, but I find that if mulched heavily, very few if any seedlings appear. If it does become a problem, take off the all the seed heads before they dry.

Blue / Purple Salvias

S.napifolia – A herbaceous perennial that forms a compact rosette of hairy lyrate shaped leaves, growing to approx. 30cm. Flowering in late spring / summer, it forms dense whorls of pale lavender flowers, which last through out the season. Although small, they produce good quantities of seed. This needs to be planted en mass for a good show.

S. officinalis - A great small shrub.for the front of the bed, if not crowded and grown in full sun, it will make a great  rounded clump. All the "offinalis" group make good border plants, growing to 30 x 30 cm. Lovely display of mauve/purple flowers in spring/ summer which produce plenty of seed. Keep picking the tips to stop it from becoming soft and lanky.

S. lyrata  ( Green or Dark leaf varieties) - please specify which is wanted when ordering.

This is a small clumping perennial, excellent for a border plant. It is mainly grown for it's leaves than for it's flowers. The green variety produces large broad leaves about 6 - 8 cm x 4 -6 cm, these have lovely dark lyre markings along the veins. The dark leaf variety has a reddish underside, making a lovely leafy plant for the border. Both varieties send up many stems to 20 - 30 cm and produce copious amounts of seed. The flowers on both are a pale blue, the flowers on the green variety are often gone before they are seen, the flowers on the dark leaf variety stay longer, but also go very quickly, but the produce interesting seed heads.

S.verticillata - Another herbaceous perennial that makes a soft clump, growing to about 30 cm. The leaves are very broad and hairy. The stems are also hairy. Late spring, will see flower stems appearing with masses of pale blue small flowers in tight whorls along the flower head. The bees enjoy the flowers, and when finished they produce attractive calyces with copious amounts of seed.

S. forskaohlei  - This is a very useful rosette forming Salvia.. In areas that are cool, that have plenty of shade, this Salvia forms beautiful clumps of large leaves, anything up to15cm x 10-12cm. They make a perfect plant for those shady corners at the bottom of the garden, especially under deciduous trees, and even better if there is a damp patch that can be planted.

In spring it sends up 1 -2 main flowering stems to an approx height of 80cm, that produce masses of large mauve/purple wide lipped flowers which have a conspicuous white bee line for insects to follow.

This is a hardy perennial no matter what the growing situation. If there are any plants arising from self seeding, these are usually very welcome.

S.macrophylla -  A low growing tropical shrub to 1 - 1.2m H, with large hairy mat green leaves, approx 12 - 15 cm x 12cm. Growing upright, it produces panicles of true blue flowers. The flowers are tubular with the lower lip curled back to show the stamens which are exerted very well.

A lovely shrub, but needs shelter from hot winds and hot days.

S.mexicana 'Limelight'- This is one of the first large leaf Autumn flowering Salvias, making a magnificent display of large purple/blue tubular flowers in lime green/yellow  calyces.

Growing to 2.5mH and spreading, it looks magnificent when in flower. When not in flower, the leaves are a broad cordate shape that has a blue hue and a pale felty underneath. The new growth has a whitish appearance. This performs best in a sheltered position. Although coming from a cool rainforest, it doesn't like the really cold weather, especially if exposed. It will tolerate a good amount of sun but doesn't like to be dry .

A good screening plant for neighbours, fence or a shed.

Pink Salvias

S. 'Greek Skies' - Although very similar to S. fruticosa it can easily be distinquished by it's broad lanceolate leaves and no lobes at the top of the leaf, and no wavy leaves. These are shorter than S. officinalis and have shorter stems as well. 'Greek Skies' actually grows in winter whereas S. officinalis " goes off" in winter.

'Greek Skies makes the best sage tea. Growing to approx 1 x 1, it is a good grower making a nice rounded shrub and when in flower ( pale pink), quite stunning.

White & Yellow Salvias

S. 'Snow White' - This is a progeny of S. greggii 'Alba' and is very similar, but this is a definate cross with a microphylla. The shrub is more open, growing to 60 cm, the leaves are much larger. having a typical shape of a cross, shiny, slightly crenulated leaves, much larger and broader than

 The typical Greggii leaf. The flowers are pure white, again quite prolific and flowers the whole year. This plant can be dotted around the garden rather than hedged.

S. mellifera - A woody shrub that is strongly scented, growing to 1 x 1m. Coming form California, it likes full sun and good drainage. The dark green leaves are shiny, and most stems are well clothed. The flower heads are in whorls around the stem in a cluster. They produce many small white flowers. Occasionally, they can have a pink tinge, but are mainly white. The bees love the flowers. Unfortunately it is not easy to propagate by cuttings so seed is often the way to grow this plant.

S. disermas - Coming from South Africa, this is a hardy perennial growing to 60 cm. An upright open plant with grey / green rugose heart shaped leaves that are highly scented with a medicinal smell. The flower heads are dense, hairy and sticky that produce pure white small open flowers. A plant for the mid foreground of the garden. It should be dotted about the garden.

S.argentea - A herbaceous perennial that produces very large felty white leaves, growing to a neat clump. It produces a flower stem in summer to a height of 40 - 60cm. This is a hairy, slightly sticky stem that produces many open white flowers. They seem to stay for some weeks, giving a wonderful display. A plant for the forefront of the bed. They are often planted in rows as an edge planting. This plant will only grow well for the first year, but by pruning it after flowering, they can grow for a second year.

S. verticillata 'Alba' - A herbaceous Salvia that produces very broad soft hairy leaves, making a soft clumping plant, perfect for the front of the border in spring / summer. Growing to 30 - 40 cm, it produces lovely stems of dense white flowers, making a terrific display. When finished flowering, the flower heads of green calyces are very attractive.

                              SEED ORDER FORM

Name ………………………………………………………………………

Address…………………………………………………………………..

Email address ……………………………………. Phone ………………

PAYMENT  can be either Cheque,( made out to the HSOV Salvia Study Group )

Money Order, or Money Gram for overseas orders.

Each Pkt  of seed is $3.00. To make the order worthwhile, orders over $12.00 Aus should be given 

SEND TO : 844 Highbury Rd, Glen Waverly, 3150 , Victoria, Australia 

Email : highcon@hotkey.net.au