Salvia farinacea – The Mealy Cup Sage
This is tough free flowering plant, and Salvia farinacea is one species that has a number of cultivars with different flower colours.
This is a species with a fairly compact growth habit, and this is welcome attribute not always found in Salvias. Flower colours range from blues and violets through to smokey white
Being from Mexico though to the souther state of the USA, this is a plant that will flower early in the season from spring to summer, it then will often put on a second display of flowers as the weather cools down again at the end of summer.
It is a favourite with xeric gardeners and can be regarded as drought tolerant once established. It cold climates Salvia farinacea is treated as a tender perennial
Salvia farinacea Varieties :
- Victoria Blue
- Cottage Blue
- Samara Violet
- Victoria White
- Blue Bedder
- Arctic Blue
Care
- Best planted in a well drained humus rich soil in full sun.
- Water through the first summer.
- A little slow release general purpose fertilisers in spring will be all that is need in any good soil.
- You can prune back after flower to encourage a busy growth habit and a second round of flowering. Try not to prune back below the foliage for best results.