Salvia greggii bicolor : A lovely small open dense shrub, 60-80cmH for a sunny position with gorgeous cream and pink bicoloured flowers.
S. microphylla ‘Keegan’, is very similar to Salvia greggii bicolor, but it has a different combination of colours in the flowers and has microphylla shaped leaves.
Flowers: are a combination of cream and pink. The hood is cream with cream hairs, the tube and 2 side lobes are pink, the bottom lobe is cream, often with some slight colouring on the back.
Calyces are green, ribbed, often with some slight colouring on the exposed side, especially when in bud form.
Often the main flowering period is from spring on wards, but plants can flower for most of the year until trimmed / cut down. These flowers are always attractive to bees, moths and other insects.
Leaves: are mid green and broad lineal with a rounded apex. Although the edges are not exactly entire , having one or two notches. This plant was originally named as a greggii type Salvia. so has continued to be classed as a greggii.
Position Salvia greggii bicolor in the front of the bed in an informal border. If planted in front of a low hedge, this makes a wonderful splash of colour, filling up an area very well with it’s sprawling habit.
This Salvia to brightens up a dull boring part of the garden with the cream and pink flowers blending so well with other pastel coloured perennials or contrasting with vivid blues and purple coloured plants.
Plant this colourful Salvia in a sunny position in well drained soil. Mulch well to keep the root area cool. A good tough, hardy plant for the hot summer months, winter cold and tolerating light frosts.
Pruning: Plants need to be cut back in autumn when they get a bit leggy. Cut back to a good green bud, remove any dead wood and twiggy stems to keep them looking good. This helps to promote more flowers once the new growth has matured.
Easily propagated by tip cuttings, taken most of the year.