Salvia superba ‘Blue and Rose Marvel’: these are small herbaceous perennials, 30 cmH with a basal rosette of leaves and many stems of cerise pink and bright blue flowers in spring and summer.
|
|
|
Both ‘Blue and Rose Marvel’ are varieties of Salvia superba types. Both have a compact growth habit, forming a basal rosette of leaves and numerous spikes of flowers.
Flowers: Have a falcate type of flower with a curved fat hood and the lower lobes sit together to form a cup- which holds a drop of dew and allows bees and other pollinating insects a place to land.
The bottom lobe on the ‘Blue Marvel’ is virtually white which acts as a beeline to guide the bee further towards the throat and nectar.
The beeline on the ‘Rose Marvel ‘is not as apparent, but does have markings to guide the insects towards the throat and explore further into the flower.
Both varieties have a very compact flower head, all flowers being in whorls of 8 flowers, 4 on each side of the stem, very tightly arranged on the stem. A flower head may be only 10-12cmL , with flowers opening at the base, leaving a lot of buds at the top, to open gradually. This method helps to prolong the flowering period over the summer season.
Numerous spikes of flowers are sent up, appearing in mid spring, Oct/ Nov after they have formed their basal rosette of leaves. Flowering continues through out spring and summer and occasionally into autumn, but most have finished by late February. All flowers are held well above the leaves to attract passing insects.
Calyces: Are small, pointed, green with coloured ribs for the ‘Blue Marvel’, but dark crimson coloured for ‘Rose Marvel’, which makes a wonderful colour contrast with the flowers.
Bracts: are small, triangular and coloured, the same as the calyces. It is the bracts that are seen around the flower buds at the top of the flower head in both varieties.
Leaves and Stems: The stems in ‘Blue Marvel’ are green and very dark in ‘Rose Marvel’, which ads to the beauty of each set of coloured flowers.
The leaves of these varieties are slightly different from the normal superba leaf type. These leaves are dark, lanceolate, wider, usually flat and slightly lobed, almost undulating along the edges, accentuating the basal rosette of leaves.
|
|
|
|
|
Both ‘Blue and ‘Rose Marvel’ are lovely compact plants that are ideal to grow in a large pot or as a border plant along a path. Equally they would be a great impact grown in clumps of 3 – 5 plants in a mixed border.
They should both be grown in a full sun position to keep their bushy habits and to make the most of their numerous spikes of flowers to attract pollinating insects to the garden.
Grow with other blue/purple/ white/ pale pink small shrubs and perennials in a mixed border, a rockery or even in a gravel garden.
Once established these plants are hardy through out the summer season, especially if mulched well and given additional watering during any really hot periods.
Maintenance: As these plants will go down for winter, mark their position to prevent walking over and accidentally digging up. The ‘Blue Marvel’ is not as hardy as ‘Rose Marvel’ and may not reappear, but ‘Rose Marvel ‘ will continue to the next season.
Mulch to keep the crowns warm over the winter season and cool during the hot summer season. Feed in late winter , before the leaves begin to appear. Feed regularly during the growing period, especially when in flower, to keep them looking good. Dead head flower heads at the beginning of the season and keep the heads for seed at the end of their flowering period.
Propagation: If you have seed, sow seed in late winter/ early spring on a heat bed to get them up for the upcoming season. Take slips or small cuttings from fresh side shoots, before most of the flower stems are in bloom. Only a short window to take these small shoots.
See the Propagation Page for tips on ‘how to take cuttings’, the correct mix and how to pot up.
Not readily available