Mystery plant

[ChrisB]

Hi,  I got this from Veteran Vet last year, he wasn't sure of its name.  He thought it was a scrophularia but the flower does look a bit salvia-like to me.  Any ideas gratefully accepted.

[Brian Ellis]

It looks like a salvia to me too Chris, but what do I know?  Have you tried emailing a picture to the National Collection holder?

[ChrisB]

Never thought of that Brian, and I should have as a former NC holder myself    I'll give it a try.

[ChrisB]

Just checked and they don't have email or web site 

[arisaema]

Try this guy: http://www.robinssalvias.com/

[ChrisB]

Robin got back to me.  He says it may be a rare salvia, but he is not sure about how square the stem is, so I have to go get some more to look at the stem.  Otherwise, he's guessing at possibly a scutellaria.

[Brian Ellis]

Interesting nonetheless Chris I am sure you will keep us posted.

[ChrisB]

Salvia specialist and collection holder both now think it is a stachys, but which one I wonder?

[Maggi Young]

Salvia specialist and collection holder both now think it is a stachys, but which one I wonder?

Don't look at me..... I can't tell the difference.....

[Lesley Cox]

S. chrysantha maybe? That is quite a low plant.

[ChrisB]

Lesley, I think you've got it.  Just googled it for images and my plant looks pretty similar.  Thank you so much!!   I just knew someone here would be able to name it!

[Lesley Cox]

It's probably 20 years since I had it in the garden so the memory's a bit hazy. Two other super species with woolly foliage are S. saxicola with white flowers and S. candida which can be either pink or white. They're all nice plants to drape down a wall if you have one.

[Brian Ellis]

Thank you for that learning experience Chris, it's a new one on me and rather attractive...

[ChrisB]

Sadly, Lesley, I have no walls.  Its my deepest wish to have a walled garden..... but I fear it is not to be.  Have to share a friend's wall instead, so I keep giving her things and have visiting rights.  I'm going to have a go at propagating it now I know what it is.  If I can get it going and you want to try it, Brian, let me know.

[Lesley Cox]

Seed might be your best bet Chris. I've always found the woolly Stachys species quite difficult from cuttings. If you take the cutting just below leaf nodes, the stem narrows to the node and somehow seems to lose substance. Not explaining that very well. Have a go anyway. Good luck.