I'm interested in acquiring more of these plants. I really love my White Nymph, Coral Nymph, and Hot Lips salvias.
Any suggestions for my Texas cottage garden? :)
Which salvias do you like in your cottage garden?
Jo,
I'm not sure I can answer a question about what would do well in Texas, but have you gotten Black and Blue Salvia? It's sort of a startling color here in late summer, but it isn't hardy, so would probably bloom a lot earlier for you. It keeps going and going once it gets started.
Salvia gregii should also do realy well there, but Hot Lips might be gregii, just a named variety.
I will know more this summer when all my Salvia seedlings bloom. :))
Suzy
I love every salvia I've ever bought! Now lots of coral nymph babies from last year's one plant - and many, many butterflies and bees visited that one! Any of them are worth planting. (and cutting back if they get too big).
I had black and blue salvia two years ago. (My only salvia then.) It did ok, but I don't think I had it planted in the right spot. The blooms were gorgeous, though. I'll have to try that one again.
I bought an annual seed that I liked from Select Seeds--clary sage-Blue Denim. I also like the salvias Wild Watermelon and Wild Thing--both are great bright pinks. I had Wild Watermelon a few years ago and lost it after a couple seasons. Didn't really know anything about them or how to care for them. I might try one again this season...
I have may night, purple rain, and a few others i adore.
I have may night, blue and black, but my favorite is the red annual salvia, lady in red.
I've been singing the praises of May Night. I had it in Phoenix and it did well there with some additional water. Then I moved to Tennessee (no additional water needed so far this spring!). It started blooming for me this past week - after blooming up to and through frost last fall, all the way through summer. And it has such an electric kind of purple color. It's not a huge plant, but it does get noticed. It's about 24-30" for me here. This year I'm putting coreopsis 'Sunshine Superman' in with it. It has Lamb's Ears next to it right now, but it is proving to be a real thug.
I'm afraid this pic doesn't do the color justice.
Ooh! That one is a beauty. Never enough blue/purples in the garden to suit me:) The combo with the coreopsis will be really striking.
Oh, I have to have that one! It's just gorgeous.
Thanks for the pic.
If you want something different you may want to try Salvia sclarea or Salvia argentea.....
Can salvia be direct-sown with success in a Zone 6 or 7 climate? And, if so, do you kidz have favorite catalogs for your salvia purchases?
Don't answer her, everybody - she has too much to plant now and it will only make her insane.
Legally, that is.
Honey, don't hate me, it's only for your own good.
Hah! Like that will stop me!
Now. About those seeds? Anyone? Anyone? Noonan?
Burpee had a nice annual salvia that I planted it last year. It was unsual coloring - white and a lavender blue. I think it was called sea breeze. I was searching my pictures, but I don't have a decent one of it. This is has a few strands in front of some grass.
Here is the official burpee picture.
Wrightie, May Night is so cheap at places like Lowe's that it's hardly worth starting from seed. Sniff the leaves before you buy it - the flowers are lovely, and long-blooming, but the plant stinks (to my nose). I got rid of it because of it.
I got seed from the coolest Salvias I grow from swaps and trades.
Not much help, but I didn't want you to think we were ignoring you.
PC, That will look spectacular with the Sunshine Superman!!! Post pics when they bloom!
Suzy
Hmmm Bummer. I want salvias like the ones at the National Arboretum.
So glad to hear that someone else finds May Night stinky! I got mine from Lowes on the 75% off table! I have Marcus which is a really cute little one for the front of the bed, with blue flowers similar to May Night too.
LOL - yeah, it's a strange one for me, being a fragrance (both flower and foliage) freak. If it actually gave off that scent I'd probably can it.
Suzy - if I can get the seeds to germinate in this freaky weather, that is.... but if it comes up as I envision it, I will definitely be taking some pics!
Now I gotta get down on my knees and sniff the foliage! Not sure if mine is May Nights... it was a fall "crappy plant" rack discounted no ID plant needing a home. I love the blooms.
Jo ~ S. coccinea ~ Lady in Red grew huge, bloomed beautifully, shed seeds and sprouted new ones. Only if you like a red bloomer.
Is 'Lady In Red' that much improved over the old S. coccinea? I haven't seen a side-by-side comparison. What I used to love about it is the blooms you'd get in the shade, even - bright red.
But I think I might still have some seeds... somewhere...
Not sure... the S. coccinea was my first foray into Salvias. I am hooked.
Not sure the name of this one. It's a native that grows all over the Audubon High Island, Texas bird sanctuary. It is glorious!
Edit - it shows horizontally here - not sure why. It's vertical on my photo program. Still the color is awsome.
This message was edited Apr 18, 2008 11:45 PM
Bookworm,
That looks like something that hummingbirds would like.
That is a great shot bookworm! I have the annual red one and several Victoria Blue Salvia farinacea. I like them because even though they do stink when you cut them, they are perennials and the blue color is a great contrast for all my roses. I have a more Xeric one that is blooming now, can't recall the name but they all are easy care.
I edited because I found the tag to my blue ones and realized they were Victoria blue and not May Nights!
This message was edited Apr 20, 2008 2:26 PM
Wow, it's like the Black and Blue, only Black and Red!
Here is the more Xeric one I have in full bloom now. I think it is Salvia dorii or Desert sage.
Bookworm,
I wonder if this is the salvia that they have at Audobun High Island?
http://www.highcountrygardens.com/catalog/product/84798/
Uh oh - ya'll better get as many plants as you can.....
http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/wireStory?id=4427669
Oh, my goodness, my ten plants is probably enough to put me away for life! LOL
Just kidding. I don't have that particular one.
This message was edited Apr 21, 2008 8:47 AM
This message was edited Apr 21, 2008 8:53 AM
LOL! Mine probably is that one. Geez! I doubt Border patrol has time to check our gardens.
LOL - I never heard about that! I've got about 5-6 different salvias growing...
Pennefeather - that's not the same one - but that's really pretty! The very same plant (as High Island) just started blooming in my front flower bed! What a surprise. I must've bought it at one of our native plant nurseries last year and forgot about it when it was dormant. It's tall and skinny, not wide and showy like my other salvias. It will also be everywhere soon.... it's traveling by runners and popping up far from the main plant. I think hummers should love it!
I love the blue of that desert sage, Cactus.
Ever since I started reading this thread, I have been intrigued with the salvias that I am finding. I haven't ordered anything yet from High Country Gardens, but they have the most beautiful pictures. I didn't know that so many nice salvias existed. I had pretty much limited myself to Lady in Red, May Night, and Black and Blue (or Blue and Black).
I was finally at the point where I had already purchased or started all the plants that I wanted to put in the garden this year, when I find myself think again about what I should be adding.
Bookworm, please let me know if you ever find out which salvia is growing in your yard. I'll probably end up adding at least one new salvia. Last year was my first for May Night and Black and Blue (or Blue and Black).
This would probably be a great time of year to go visit the Herb Garden at the National
Arboretum ... maybe this time I'll be able to read the salvia ID's before the plants get too large to cover their labels. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/781809/
Pennefeather, I have some Victoria Blue that I think is my favorite so far. The flowers are absolutely gorgeous, and they are blooming machines! (Before that I thought Coral Nymph was my favorite. :) )
Mystic Spires does really well out here:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/146200/
=)
Wrightie,
Those are great pictures. I especially like #10 - dark dancer. I have to make it to the Aboretum this year. I've been in Virginia for three years, and haven't been there yet.
Oh... I'd love to go to the National Arboretum! I have family in Virginia and Maryland, so maybe one of these days :) I'll dmail you if I ever get there.
I too love Mystic Spires, dmj. I have better luck with that than Black and Blue.
Pennefeather - I'll look on the Texas Native forum to see if I can find the name of the bright red salvia. You know... sometimes another name for a native is "weed", so if it would grow in Virginia, I can send you some! There was a label on it at High Island, but at that point I didn't know that was what was beginning to bloom in my garden.
I do love coral nymph, too, Jo. I could supply the world with seedlings from it... I'll take a pic if the weather cooperates tomorrow and the sun is out. I took 8 or 9 seedlings to the RU on the 12th.
You're right Bookworm. I guess I should plant some Virginia bluebells.