Salvia squalens: is a mid sized open shrub 1-1.2mH with long tubular vermillion flowers in Spring through to Winter
Salvia squalens seems to flower almost all the year once flowering has begun.
Flowers: are semi tubular, all parts are a vermillion colour, with a straight hood with an extended white or coloured stigma coming out of the tip and a large bottom lobe. The 2 side lobes are tucked in nicely beside the large wide middle lobe which is often slightly split.
The flower head can be approx 15-20 cm long. Flowers are in a loose whorl, being in alternate positions to maximise the flower’s ability to expand and attract our small honeyeater birds and pollinating insects. Flowers are held above the foliage to attract passing birds and insects.
Calyces: These are green, long, slender and slightly hairy with short clear hairs. All lobes and buds are pointing upwards. These fall off after the flower is finished, leaving a flower stem, which colours to a straw colour and stays until cut off.
Stems: This shrub only produces 1-2 stems, which can become woody very quickly unless tip pruned to a bud with leaves.
Leaves: are a mid green, furry beneath, broad lanceolate and fissured to take any moisture down the stem towards the roots. Most of the leaves are located just beneath the flower head, leaving a bare one or two stems.
Salvia squalens is a good slender plant that has flowers in winter that provides food for those small honey eaters and pollinating insects.
Grow in full sun, through other small shrubs to hide their bare stems. Grow with other similar shrubs and perennials that like a full sun position. This does well with blues and purple subshrubs and tall perennials.
A tough hardy plant for the summer season, frost hardy for the winter season. Not fussed with soils, but needs supplementary watering during the dry summer season.
Maintenance: As the plant flowers during winter, wait until the new growth appears in spring before cutting off spent flower heads. As the stems don’t readily reshoot, trim down to a green bud with leaves.
Mulch around the root base both in winter to and summer to keep the roots cool. Feed regularly to keep the plant flowering and looking good.
Propagation: tip cuttings are really the only way of propagating this shrub.
Not always available