Salvia pratensis ‘Swan Lake’: is a herbaceous perennial 60-80cmH with basal foliage and spires of white flowers in spring and summer.
Salvia pratensis ‘Swan Lake’ has a startling white flower which looks magnificent when planted en masse.
Flowers: are a falcate type flower with a large opening between the hood and the bottom lobes. All parts of the flower is white, the buds are a pale yellow and cream when first opened and quickly fade to pure white, while maturing. A white stigma is well exerted from the tip of the hood. The bottom middle lobe is cupped to hold a drop of moisture and act as a landing place for bees and other pollinating insects. As the throat is wide open, this must entice the insect to explore further into the flower.
Flowers are formed into whorls of 4-6flowers, all tightly packed along a green square stem, reaching approx 30cm/ 12inches long, with more buds unfurling at the top of the flower stem. These are held way above the rosette of foliage to attract any passing insects. Being a white colour, these can be seen at night, so can also attract night flying insects.
Most plants send up 2 or more spikes in early spring, soon after the leaves are fully formed. They usually flower until early summer, after which the seeds are formed, maturing in autumn.
Calyces: are green, slightly hairy with clear hairs along the ribs. All lobes are well pointed to hold such a large flower. When the flower has finished and dropped, they turn a straw colour, holding approx 4 dark rounded seeds. These will remain until knocked off or collected, leaving just the bare flower stem which needs to be cut down in autumn.
Leaves: are a mid green colour, large in length and width, a pointed tip with small serrated lobes the length of the leaf. The texture is fissured with a prominent midvein. Although the rosette is formed when it first appears in spring, the leaves lengthen and mature as the season progresses, to form quite a clump of leaves in the summer. New shoots can be seen at the side of the clump which can be used as cuttings. these help to slowly expand the clump.
Smaller leaves are seen along the flower stem, these are quite lobed and a pair will sit under the first set of flowers, with small triangular bracts sitting beneath most sets of flowers unfurling. These bracts eventually drop off as the flower stem matures.
Although showy during the summer season, this beautiful Salvia ‘Swan Lake’ becomes dormant during winter.
Grow in full sun, in groups of 3-5 plants with other similar coloured herbaceous and evergreen perennials and small shrubs. When grown en mass they make a wonderful display with the pure white being a contrast to all other colours. A startling colour is a good foil for other strong coloured perennials grown near by.
Not fussy with soil, but should be well drained. If the soil is too heavy without enough compost/ plant matter incorporated, then there is a chance that the crown will rot and not appear again in spring.
Once established, these plants can be tough and hardy during summer with the occasional extra watering during the dry periods.
Maintenance: During the growing season, mulch well to keep the root area cool during the hot dry summer. During Autumn when the plant is preparing to go down for winter, collect any seed that may have formed, cut down all flower stems and clean up the leaf base. Mulch the crown to keep the root area warm during the cold months of winter.
When the leaves begin to appear, then feed well and top up the mulch.
Propagation: usually by seed sown in warmer weather, but any large clumps can be divided or small new growths can be taken off either as cuttings or potted up as rooted slips. for more tips, visit the propagation page.
Not readily available