Salvia 2015/2016

[meanie]

My Lepechinia is grown in a great pot I bring in a polytunnel during the winter ; it grows well and fast from seeds so I sow new plants regularly ; it is flowering in late summer so I can take all advantage of its flowers before first frost Do you wish some seeds Meanie ?

Merci pour l'information Fleurbleu 
Yes, some seed would be nice. Have a look in the following albums and I may have seed of anything that interests you to make a swap with.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/35724365@N05/albums/72157651535862337

https://www.flickr.com/photos/35724365@N05/albums/72157642094996033

[meanie]

meanie,

I have not had much luck lifting tender species in the autumn. I suspect that with our long growing season the plants grow too large to transplant well. An additional fact could be warm and dry weather can often occur in November and even December stressing the plants. At one time I planted tender species out in their containers hoping it would be make lifting them less stressful. This had its problems too.

I like your idea of lifting plants, however with our climatic conditions it can be risky. When I have a chance I will continue to experiment with some modifications that work under our conditions. Having some of the tender species in our El Dorado county garden would be sweet. 

Most of the time I would do cuttings to keep as a back up but experience tells me which ones will lift without damage. By far the most reliably safe for lifting are the S.gauranitica and S.gesneriiflora hybrids.

[Robert]

Most of the time I would do cuttings to keep as a back up but experience tells me which ones will lift without damage. By far the most reliably safe for lifting are the S.gauranitica and S.gesneriiflora hybrids.

meanie,

At one time I took back-up cuttings of the various tender Salvia species. How my mind drifts into and then focuses on other horticultural endeavors. This is a very sound idea. I appreciate the reminder. I do want to get S. melissodora and S. blepharophylla going again - and keep them. 

[fermi de Sousa]

Definitely not for the rock garden is Salvia leucantha; this one is one of the new selections, 'Velour White' which was planted in early spring in a new raised bed which has been kept watered through the summer,
cheers
fermi

[meanie]

Definitely not for the rock garden is Salvia leucantha; this one is one of the new selections, 'Velour White' which was planted in early spring in a new raised bed which has been kept watered through the summer,
cheers
fermi

If that is blooming early in an Australian autumn that could be a good choice for the UK gardener. There are a few more of the early blooming Salvia leucantha becoming available here now.

[Robert]

Salvia leucantha is an autumn-into-the-winter bloomer here in California.

Fermi, the weather must be quite mild for you during the wintertime. S. leucantha cannot endure the "cold" winters at the farm, although it thrives in gardens near our Sacramento Valley home.

[fermi de Sousa]

Robert,
This hasn't gone through a winter here yet!
In Melbourne (which is virtually frost-free) Mexican or wooly Sage flowers through the summer and into the autumn/early winter. When we planted some here they were cut to the ground by frost and did not reappear in spring, perhaps because they had not gotten established enough. We're hoping this plant has gotten its roots down deep and if it gets hit by frost that it will resprout later.
cheers
fermi

[meanie]

In Melbourne (which is virtually frost-free) Mexican or wooly Sage flowers through the summer and into the autumn/early winter.

I can never get my species form in bloom before autumn here, even if kept frost free and in the green over the winter. It will bloom once autumnal conditions prevail and that will include all winter if it is a mild one.

[Robert]

Salvia carduacea

This is an annual species that is native to California. This is my first season to grow this species. At first I was not impressed by its flowers or overall performance. However, as the season has progressed its charm has grown on me. The plants have continued to produce many more and new flowering stems as the season has progressed. In addition, with drier and warmer weather the slugs have become less of an issue. The species is a keeper for me.

[meanie]

(Attachment Link)

Salvia carduacea

This is an annual species that is native to California. This is my first season to grow this species. At first I was not impressed by its flowers or overall performance. However, as the season has progressed its charm has grown on me. The plants have continued to produce many more and new flowering stems as the season has progressed. In addition, with drier and warmer weather the slugs have become less of an issue. The species is a keeper for me.

I like that! Such a shame that the Californian species struggle as they do here in the UK.

S.gesneriiflora is finally in bloom...............

[Robert]

Meanie,

How the climate effects our plants. The Salvia gesneriiflora in our area bloomed all winter and now are in active vegetive growth.

Yours looks great! 

[meanie]

Meanie,

How the climate effects our plants. The Salvia gesneriiflora in our area bloomed all winter and now are in active vegetive growth.

Yours looks great! 

It has been threatening to bloom since Christmas but has only just given in to temptation.

A couple of cultivars are in bloom now;
Nachtvlinder............


And Blue Note............

[meanie]

Another of the small cultivars came back into bloom today after the winter  - S.microphylla "Pink Blush"..............

[meanie]

Salvia "Love and Wishes" is a superb new introduction................

[fleurbleue]

I grow Salvia Wendy's wishes and yours is darker ; very easy for cuttings