Here we are again another Summer has gone and Winter is upon us, but not for long.  This past Summer was an interesting and somewhat hectic one.  I opened The Salvia Garden for the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon (HPSO) Open Garden Program.  I jumped right in with 3 open garden dates, early June, late August and early October.  It was a lot of work getting ready but it was well worth the effort.  I hope all who visited enjoyed the garden and learned a little bit more about Salvias. I enjoyed meeting all of you!  I also gave several garden talks about Salvias. Thanks to all who invited me and to those who listened.  It was a rewarding and educational experience! 

That being said I am happy to offer several new species this year.  I know many of you have been and are searching for Salvia guaranitica seed.  I am glad to say I am offering seed from one of my S. guaranitica.  I haven't named the parent plant as of yet.  This seed was collected from the best performing S. guaranitica I have in the garden. 

Some of the other new listings I am excited about offering are; Salvia buchananii, Salvia sinaloensis and Salvia tomentosa.

I carried some of last year's seed offerings over to this year's list as I think these are good garden or container plants.  If you are interested in any of the other seeds offered in 2005 then please feel free to email me.

Sorry to say, George The Tortoise had to be banned from the garden last summer (2005) as he had grown much to large to roam free in the garden.  He had a tendency to trample, no flatten, everything in his path.  Perhaps he will be allowed supervised visits in 2006. :-)

Regarding salvia seed germination

It seems common perception is that fresh seeds will have the best germination rates. I am finding that several species germinate better a year after collection.  These seem to  require a totally dry period .  The seeds below were collected this year in the Summer and Fall of 2005 (except where noted).  Inquiries about other species from last year's list or species I have in very  limited numbers are welcome.

SEED LIST

PLEASE NOTE:

The number of seeds offered per species is the minimum numbered of seeds sent in each packet.

See ORDERING INFORMATION page for seed prices and shipping cost.

S. amplexicaulis - Hungary/Balkans -  This salvia when young forms a rosette of foliage. In early spring the stems and leaf veins have a rich burgundy color.  As the plant matures it will grow to a height of 3'- 4' tall.  Flowering begins in June and continues for several weeks.  It will continue to bloom sporadically throughout the summer as long as the plant is not cut back too far.  New inflorescences will emerge from the leaf nodes along the main stem.  Each ear this salvia will enlarge its rosette and send up multiple flower stems.  The blue/purple flowers are medium size.  ZONE 7  - 20 SEEDS

S. buchananii  - Mexico -  I was quite surprised this past season (2005) as to just how many seeds I was able to collect from my S. buchananii plants!  Here in my garden this species tends to be evergreen as long as the temperature stays in the 20'sF.  If the temperature drops much below 20F the plant usually dies back only to return from its roots, most years, in the spring.  I am finding that this species if given fertile soil will tend to spread a bit but hey, with this beauty,  how can that be bad?  S. buchananii grows into a small shrub like plant with oval dark green glossy leaves.  In June the large hot fuschia pink flowers appear.  .  The upper surface of the flowers is covered in fuzz, which tempts one to pet it.   The flowers are a magnet for hummingbirds. The major flush of blooms in in June but this species will continue to bloom up until frost.  this species does best with some afternoon shade. ZONE 8 - 10 SEEDS - LIMITED QUANTITIES

S. forskaohlei - Bulgaria, Greece  - (BLUE FLOWER FORM).  This salvia was purchased as seed labeled Salvia hians.  How many of us have done that?  At first I was disappointed with this salvia, another S. forskaohlei, but when it bloomed it redeemed itself and earned a place in the Salvia Garden.  This form has inflorescences that grow up to 4' tall.  The flowers are more blue than the purple flowered form of S. forskaohlei.   Another difference between the two color forms is that the blue form has soft fuzzy leaves that have multiple lobes.  This form will also re-bloom in September.  The second flush of flower stems grows to about 2' tall.   This form will seed around.  ZONE 7 - 20 SEEDS  (Collected in 2004)

S. flava v. megalantha -  China  -  In my opinion this is the most spectacular Chinese salvia I grow.  It is the one that once you see it in flower you will 'need' it in your garden.  The plant forms a rosette of glossy, mid green,  bumpy leaves.  In June the flower stems start growing and can reach a height of up to 3'.  The flowers are a nice shade of yellow with a maroon lower lip.  This species will die back to the crown in winter.  In January 2004 I had 10 plants of this species in one gallon pots on the patio.  The temperature dropped to 17.6 overnight and stayed below freezing the next day.  I forgot about these pots for the whole day.  When I remembered to move them into the garage the pots were frozen solid.  The  plants all came up in the spring!  LIMITED QUANTITIES -  ZONE 8 or lower. - 10 SEEDS

S. glechomaefloia -  Mexico -  I have yet to garden test this species in the garden for winter hardiness.  I have been growing it in my wheelbarrow where it is slowly taking over the limited space.  The plant grows to 2' - 3' tall.  The leaves are small and glossy.  The small blue flowers appear from June until frost.  The plant covers itself in these tiny blue gems.   The bees seem to enjoy them.  ZONE 8(?) - 20 SEEDS (Collected in 2004)

S. glutinosa-  Central and South Europe, Turkey, Iran -  Here's a salvia species that will do wonderfully in a bright shady site.  Salvia glutinosa will form a rosette of mid sized leaves.  The flowers appear in mid summer and continue into August.  The flower stem will rise above the foliage to about 2.5'.  The flowers are large, gaping and yellow with reddish brown beelines.  I had this species growing under a Plane Tree in my parking strip in 2003.  I had the tree removed in April 2004 and the S. glutinosa struggled in the hot sun.  Give this species some shade and it will thrive.  ZONE 6-7.  - 15 SEEDS

S. microphylla - Mexico -  The seeds for this offering were collect off my S. microphylla 'Hoja Grande'.  the flowers on it are red and large. The plant grows to about 3' in height and as wide.  The flowering begins in May and continues through until frost.  I am not offering these seeds as S. microphylla 'Hoja Grande' as I have S. microphylla 'La Trinidad Pink' right across the path from it.  I suspect there will be variation with these seeds.  Let the adventure begin!  ZONE 8 - 20 SEEDS

S. namaensis - S. Africa -  When I sell this salvia I recommend it be used as a container plant so it can be over wintered inside when the temperature drops below freezing.  Since it is not reliably hardy here in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) by planting it in a container here in the PNW one will see the full potential of this South African beauty.   I have never been a container gardener but when I grew S. namaensis in a container with other African salvia species I was hooked, I am now experimenting with other species in containers.  Salvia namaensis will grow to about 2.5' in a container.   The leaves are small light green and very indented. This gives the plant a delicate textured appearance.  The stems develop a chocolate brown color which contrast nicely with the light green leaves.  The flowers appear in the Summer and last into the Fall.  These are small and light blue.  Even if this species didn't flower it would be worth the effort to grow it just for the foliage.  ZONE 9 - 15 SEEDS (Collected in 2004)

S. nubicola - Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, India  -  Here is yet another yellow flowered salvia.  This species is sometimes confused with S. glutinosa.  If one grows both these species one will quickly see the difference. Yes, the flowers of S. glutinosa and S. nubicola are similar but that's where the similarity ends.  S, nubicola will grow up to 5' tall.   It starts out as a rosette of leaves but quickly develops a stem that will reach for the sky.  The flowers appear along this stem and are yellow and gaping.  Salvia nubicola usually starts blooming  in mid to late summer.  ZONE 7 - 15 SEEDS

S. patens 'Cambridge Blue' - Mexico   -  For years I have always been indifferent to the S. patens cultivars. I guess I was being a stick in the mud or just trying to be a purest for the blue of the species.  Then a few years ago I broke down and purchased seed of S. patens 'White Trophy' from Seedhunt.  I was impressed with the pure clean white of its flower.  Last year I saw S. patens 'Cambridge Blue' for sale at a local nursery.  I bought two plants and put them in my front border.  I was once again impressed by the pure clean sky blue color of its flowers.  I was fortunate or maybe farsighted enough to collect seed from the plants.  This cultivar grows as the species does to about 2' tall when in bloom.  It too would put on a better flower display with several plants planted together.  I am hoping it too will increase in size as my species have thereby giving a larger and larger flower display each season.  ZONE 8 - 10 SEEDS LIMITED QUANTITIES

S. ringens  - The Balkans   -  Salvia ringens forms a basal rosette of mid green leaves with burgundy veining in early spring.  This rosette can grow to about 6" tall maybe a bit taller.  In  late Spring the inflorescences appear and grow up to 5' tall.  These have a gray cast to them.  In June the large light purple flowers open and continue to open into the Fall attracting the hummingbirds all summer.  Plant this species in the middle of the border as the inflorescences will tend to arch towards the sunlight.  As the plant mature it will produce numerous inflorescences.  ZONE 7 - 20 SEEDS

S. 'Sarah Elizabeth'  -  Russia (Garden Origin)  -  This is a salvia I germinated from seed I collected off my S. deserta plant.  I suspect it might be a cross with S. nemerosa 'Amethyst'.  This is a much better garden plant than S. deserta.  Salvia 'Sarah Elizabeth', which I named, will form a plant about 3' tall by 2.5' wide.  Whereas S. deserta will flower once in early summer this plant flowers all summer until frost.  After the first flush of blooms is done cut the stems back to a leaf node in a few weeks it will bloom again. The flowers are mid sized and purple.  At this point in time, late December, this salvia is still alive and green in the garden.  Time will tell if it will be evergreen through the winter.  As this is probably a hybrid I cannot guarantee these seeds will produce plants that are the same as the parent which I have in the garden. ZONE 6  - 20 SEEDS (Collected in 2004)

S. scabra  - South Africa   -  This salvia will form a small shrub if grown in a container.  If grown in the ground it will grow as a deciduous perennial.  I have found this species to be reliably hardy for me with a minimum of mulching for winter.  Salvia scabra will grow to 1.5' to 2' tall. The leaves are dark green and very rough.  The flowers are held high above the foliage from Summer into the Fall.  The pale lavender flowers are long and thin, these are held in red tinted calices.  Grown best as a container specimen where it can attain its full size and be protected from hard freezes.  ZONE 8 - 15 SEEDS

S. sinaloensis  - Mexico  -  I had several large plants of this species growing in the garden this past season (2005) so I was able to collect some seed from them.  This plant will grow to 1.5' tall.  The small flowers are sapphire blue.  These are held above the burgundy foliage. The sapphire blue flowers with the burgundy foliage makes a striking combination in a container or in the front of a mixed border.  The foliage of Salvia sinaloensis will not turn burgundy if grown in to much shade.  The more sun you can give this species the darker burgundy the foliage will be.  If you want green foliage then grow it in dappled shade. It will still bloom in dappled shade but it will have almost entirely green foliage.  This species can be divided from suckers for more plants.  ZONE 9 (8?) - 10 SEEDS - LIMITED QUANTITIES

S. tomentosa  -  Mediterranean - This species had always been a problem or me to germinate...until, one day last summer when I found numerous seedlings sprouting around my large parent plant.  That same summer I found plants growing in a seed pot I had left in the hoop house over the winter. Yes, the light went on!  This species probably needs to be stratified to germinate and it is worth the effort! 

  Salvia tomentosa will form a rosette at first and look very similar to Salvia officinalis.  The gray green foliage also has a scent similar yet different than S. officinalis.  As the plant grows larger it will branch out and each branch will form an inflorescence.  When the flower buds start to form and the corolla starts to emerge take note of the color change that will occur over the next few days.  When the corolla first appears it is yellow.  As it pushes out of the calyx it slowly changes.  When the flower is fully out it will be large and light lavender with a white splotch in the middle of the lower lip.  This species has many flowers in bloom for several weeks making an awesome display.  ZONE 8 (7 or lower) - 10 SEEDS

VERY LIMITED QUANTITY SEEDS

5 Seeds per packet

Give all salvia species the best drainage possible.  I have fond that good drainage is critical in a species survival through the winter.  Also for those in colder areas a good Fall mulching will help protect the base and roots of the plants through the winter.

Salvia Plants

Coming in Spring 2006

Plants were grown from seed unless marked otherwise.

More species will be added as they attain shipping size.

I have some species in 1 gallon containers also available.  Please feel free to inquire about these.

The USPS now has a Flat Rate Priority Mail rate ($7.70).  This rate is great for shipping gallon sized plants and orders of six 4" pots.   Please note I can fit only two 1 gallon size plants into one box. 

Please inquire as to plant species availability.   I have a limited quantity of each species available. 

4" pots are $4.00 each.    4.5" deep pots are $6.00 each.

See Ordering Information for  Shipping and Handling cost.

Plants in 4" pots:

Plants in 4.5" pots: