Salvia ‘Finngrove’: A dense bushy shrub 1-1.2mH with slim fragrant, lobed leaves and pale blue flowers most of year.
Salvia ‘Finngrove‘ is a locally found Salvia in Victoria
Flowers: these are small, pale blue to a pale mauve The hood is straight, mostly the same colour with an extended stigma. The middle bottom lobe is split very wide, often facing down, the 2 side lobes are tucked in nicely to form a cup. The throat area has some interesting markings, acting as a beeline to attract bees and insects , guiding them further into the corolla.
Flowers appear in small whorls of 3-4 flowers in clusters around a thin green stem well above the foliage to attract passing insects. These flowers appear most of the year, with a small lull during 1 or 2 months during winter, with a new splurge of flowers appearing in spring and after the shrub has been clipped/ pruned.
Calyces: these are green, fairly short, but each lobe is ribbed with a pointed tip. These fall off after the flowers haven’t been pollinated, leaving a small flower stem.
Leaves: are a bright green, narrow, fragrant and highly lobed. Most stems are well clothed. Stems appear regularly from the base, adding to the overall shape of the bush. As this has slender leaves, they clip extremely well into a hedge or ball.
Salvia ‘Finngrove’ should be grown in full sun, to be kept dense. With small leaves these clip very well, clipping into balls, a hedge or any other shape.If these are clipped regularly, the shrub will continue to be a dense shrub
If clipped into a hedge, then plant at the back of smaller perennials and low groundcovers. Grow with other tough, hardy Sth African Salvias or other grey leafy plants.
Maintenance: Clip once a year to keep a good shape. Clear away any dead or twiggy growth. As this shrub is fairly dense, it mainly needs a regular clip.
Propagation: usually by tip cuttings taken at any time of the year, or the new growth from being recently clipped. View the propagation and pruning page