Big Salvia Push This Year

[meanie]

This is the year that I go big on Salvia. Through swaps and purchases I have seed for about forty species.

o far I have sown (# denotes the ones that have started germinating);
S.algeriensis
S.amarissima
S.brevilabra
S.candelabrum #
S.gesneriflora (mountain form) #
S.hians #
S.interupta
S.jurisicii
S.lasiantha #
S.mellifera #
S.miltiorrhiza #
S.miniata
S.pratensis #
S.radula #
S.rhinosina #
S.scabra
S.stolonifera #
S.subpalmatinervis
S.subrotunda
S.taraxacifolia
S.urica #

Seven of those were sown this week so I'm pleased with the rate of germination so far. I've used the paper towel method, but for some of the smaller ones I will probably go down the conventional route.

[Lesley Cox]

It will be interesting to see these as they mature and flower. If you are in the far north of Scotland (?) perhaps some won't make it?

I am reminded of an elderly woman I once know when I was just a teenager, so over 50 years ago, who decided to grow every Draba she could lay her hands on. I think most came from the various seedlists. In the finish she had a fine collection of totally nondescript and insignificant weedy-looking plants, just a small handful being really good species.

[Margaret]

I love growing salvias from seed. There are so many and you get a flowering plant at the end of the year when most things are going over. Germination is easy but overwintering is tricky for me because there is no heat in the greenhouse. I try to take cuttings from my favourites.
Good luck with yours.

[meanie]

It will be interesting to see these as they mature and flower. If you are in the far north of Scotland (?) perhaps some won't make it?

Updated my profile to add my location.
I've got a fair few of the Chinese species in there which are hardier.

I am reminded of an elderly woman I once know when I was just a teenager, so over 50 years ago, who decided to grow every Draba she could lay her hands on. I think most came from the various seedlists. In the finish she had a fine collection of totally nondescript and insignificant weedy-looking plants,

Sounds like my S.divornum! That one is proving to be a right sod to grow well, let alone bloom!

[meanie]

I love growing salvias from seed. There are so many and you get a flowering plant at the end of the year when most things are going over. Germination is easy but overwintering is tricky for me because there is no heat in the greenhouse. I try to take cuttings from my favourites.
Good luck with yours.

Sadly there are some that I do not rate the chances of blooming, but if you don't try you never know. I have the true S.elegans and that has bloomed magnificently for most of the winter this year.

[fermi de Sousa]

...I have the true S.elegans and that has bloomed magnificently for most of the winter this year.

Can you share a pic with us?
cheers, a fellow salvia-lover,
fermi

[Lesley Cox]

I really got your location wrong Meanie! It was something in another thread that made me think you were way up the top there. Can't remember which thread now.

[meanie]

I really got your location wrong Meanie! It was something in another thread that made me think you were way up the top there. Can't remember which thread now.

I probably quoted a winter low that we suffered here. It can get bitterly cold here, on a par with parts of the far north. On the plus side, we tend to miss out on the worst of the wind and rain.

[meanie]

Can you share a pic with us?
cheers, a fellow salvia-lover,
fermi

S.discolor manfully doing it's best in an unheated greenhouse...................


And Wendys Wish which is in a very sheltered spot outdoors................

[ChrisB]

My favourite is S. chamaedryoides....

[meanie]

My favourite is S. chamaedryoides....

Not one that I have. Not too sure about the silver leafed form, but the common form is nice.

Updated list of germinators as of today;

S.algeriensis#
S.amarissima#
S.brevilabra#
S.candelabrum #
S.gesneriflora (mountain form) #
S.hians #
S.interupta
S.jurisicii
S.lasiantha #
S.mellifera #
S.miltiorrhiza #
S.miniata
S.pratensis #
S.radula #
S.rhinosina #
S.scabra
S.stolonifera #
S.subpalmatinervis
S.subrotunda
S.taraxacifolia
S.urica #

I also received seed for Lepechinia bella from one of the Salvia collectors which has also started germinating.

[fermi de Sousa]

My favourite is S. chamaedryoides....

Hi Chris,
It's one that does well with us. Here are some pics from late last year.

meanie,
we do get seed on ours - if you would like some, please let me know and I'll see if there are any still there.
I hadn't even heard of half the ones you've got germinating!
cheers
fermi

[ChrisB]

It's a little beauty Fermi btw on a different topic those seeds you gave me at the Czech conference are still alive.  I've been keeping them out of frost for winter but should I now repot them?

[meanie]

meanie,
we do get seed on ours - if you would like some, please let me know and I'll see if there are any still there.
I hadn't even heard of half the ones you've got germinating!
cheers
fermi

That's kind! I've sourced some in the UK from a Salvia enthusiast, but thanks anyway. It is always awkward when I can't return the compliment and I have something (non Salvia) that he wanted!

A lot of the ones that I have are new to me. It would be hard to know them all though.