Salvia ‘Mystique’

 Salvia Mystique

Salvia ‘Mystique‘ is thought to be a cross between S. karwinskii and S. microphylla. It is often referred to as a smaller form of ‘S.’Follet’s Folly’

Salvia ‘Mystique’ is a bushy shrub, growing 1m – 1.2mH for a sunny position, with red flowers for most of the year.

Flowers: are semi tubular, a bright red watermelon colour, in a short congested inflorescence at the top of the stem.

Flowers have a small hood with larger bottom lobes, all the same colour with only a small pale area around the throat area, but don’t seem to have a pronounced beeline as both birds and insects pollinate these flowers.

Each flower head are in simple whorls of 4-6 flowers in at least 2 layers of buds and open flowers around green stems. This method of having multi layers of buds and flowers help to prolong the flowering period, this is likely to be the karwinskii parent’s influence. Flowers are held at the top of the stem to attract passing birds and pollinating insects.

This plant produces flowers for whole year around, which is likely  to be the microphylla parent’s influence. Although flowers can be found through the winter months, the new flowering period really begins in the spring and summer months.

Calyces: are green, ribbed, with sharply pointed flared tips. These rarely remain  after the flowers have finished, leaving a bare green stem.

Leaves: are a lanceolate shape, a midgreen colour, well veined with a slightly hairy surface.

The small lanceolate shape leaves and the well veined pattern above can be attributed to a microphylla influence, but the slightly hairy surface ,the almost rugose surface can be attributed to the karwinskii influence, especially if grown hard in full sun.

All stems are well clothed with leaves.  and have a similar scent to the karwinskii parent.

Salvia ‘Mystique’ was found in Meg’s garden as a mystery plant and named by Lyndi.

This plant being about 1mH is a good low bushy shrub for a sunny position.
Tough and hardy for both the summer hot dry seasons and the cold winter conditions.

As it flowers the whole year around, it continually attracts both small birds and insects to the garden.
Grown in a sunny position, it has a compact habit of growth. If grown in semi shade, the growth habit becomes more lax and is not as hardy for the summer  months.
It’s a good shrub, used as a centre point as it flowers all the year, being used to brighten up dull corners.

Maintenance: This plant doesn’t need a lot of maintenance but will need an annual prune and trim, cleaning out of any dead and twiggy stems. Every other year, it will need to be cut back properly  to good green buds to promote good new growth.

Propagation: Tip cuttings can be taken any time of the year.