(Image: Salvia - Victoria Blue)
In the garden: Salvia is a very versatile plant
The garden is as lush as it gets, teetering on the edge of wild abandon. On a misty morning the pathways are impassable without getting soaked from the waist down. Too many planters on the patio have exceeded expectations and now limit any kind of gathering to me and Sophie, our dog, and even then eye contact is a challenge.
All of this is because I plant more than I should, both in flower beds and in pots. I’m always squeezing in just one more plant. After planting in spring, the whole place looks sparse, disappointing. By summer it’s peaking, but in September the plants that initially moved slowly have literally risen to the challenge and are unstoppable.
Among them is salvia, one of my favourites. I have a number of varieties, including the popular and familiar Victoria Blue. I stuck in a few as filler this year and fill they did, growing beyond knee height.
I have other salvia, varieties that are not rare at all, but that are not always recognized as salvia. It’s no surprise, as my encyclopedia of garden plants has more than four pages devoted to this plant. They originate all around the world in temperate and tropical regions, on rocky slopes, dry meadows and moist grassland. Many are aromatic and most have square stems. Hairy leaves are also a common feature.
Salvia is in the family Lamiaceae, also known as the mint family, which includes herbs such as rosemary, sage, marjoram, oregano, thyme, lavender and mint. The salvia genus is comprised of about 900 species. Include sub species, hybrids, natural and cultivated, then throw in common names and keeping track is like first day back at school in a new class.
Although there are annuals, perennials and shrubs among the species of salvia, it’s the annuals that are typically available at most garden centres in spring. Among my favourites is Salvia patens Cambridge Blue, and blue it is — a lovely sky blue without a hint of purple.
Oxford Blue is darker. And despite being named for the rival universities of Oxford and Cambridge in England, it’s a variety that looks exceptional when paired in a container. Just to add to the naming confusion — and I don’t want to bog down this column in botanical nomenclature —there’s a second Oxford Blue listed, except it’s a different species — Salvia horminum.
And if that isn’t enough of a problem, it may be shown as Salvia viridis Oxford Blue, thanks to botanists disagreeing over the species name.
If you would like an even darker blue, look for yet another species — Salvia guaranitica. Black and Blue is a variety with smaller blue petals encased in almost black sepals, a unique colouring that attracts attention.
Don’t care for blue? Look for Salvia coccinea Lady in Red. Or for white, choose Salvia farinacea Strata. And don’t forget the lovely foliage of the perennial plant Salvia officinalis tricolour, better known as common sage. The variegated leaves are green and white splashed with purple. Grow it for herb value or as an ornamental plant.
Salvia is such a versatile plant. There’s one for almost every use or growing condition and enough colours to suit any taste. Many attract butterflies and humming birds, others are used as medicinal herbs, and one species provides psychedelic drug effects. Its legality is currently under review in some U.S. states.
I’m usually happy with the salvia varieties I find on garden centre racks in spring, but if I became tired of the ones I’ve frequently grown I can always seek out seed for rare varieties.
As for the names, once you have them in your own garden, call them whatever you like. I’m tempted to rename my Salvia coccinea Toll Booth — given the way it’s blocking my garden path.
