SALVIA

Hardy annual and half-hardy perennial



From a genus including 450 species a small number of Salvias have won

deserved popularity for beds and borders. In summer and early autumn the

long spikes of brilliant flowers produced by Fireball and Scarlet Queen

make an extremely attractive display, and S. patens is one of the most

superb pure blue flowers seen in gardens. As a bedding plant S.

argentea is extensively grown for its silvery-white foliage, which

completely covers the ground. These and other perennial varieties may be

sown in pans during February and March for transfer to the open in May,

and the plants need the usual treatment of half-hardy perennials.



A favourite annual variety is Blue Beard, growing eighteen inches high

and presenting long spikes of bright purple bracts. The annual Salvias

should also be sown in pans in February or March and transplanted in

May; or seed may be sown in the open border during April.