What is flowering now
Salvia ‘Mystique’
Salvia ‘Mystique’ is our Flower of the Month for August.
A shrub 1mH that’s been around for ages. Tough and hardy with red flowers for most of the year.
‘Mystique’ is a microphylla cross and is seen as a smaller version of ‘Follet’s Folly’ which is a taller shrub 2-3mH.
Flowers: are semi tubular, a watermelon red colour with green calyx. The hood is quite long, furry with hairs , with 2 neat side lobes and a large middle lobe, all in the same colour, with a faint pale area at the throat to act as a beeline helping to guide the bees and insects into the tube.
Flowers are in tight clustered whorls around a pale stem. These form a layered approach, with approx. 4 flowers coming out at any one time, whilst the others buds, wait their turn to open. Flowers develop at the bottom of the stem, with more flowers emerging at the tip.
The flowers are clustered in short stems at the end of the flowering stem. These appear , well above the leaves to attract any passing insects or even tiny Honeyeaters such as the Eastern Spinebill.
Flowering begins in early Winter, continuing until most of the year.
Calyces: are green, making a good contrast with the red of the corolla. Lobes are well ribbed, being long and pointed. These eventually drop off after the flower has finished . These need to be dead headed regularly to encourage new flowers. Bees, small moths and other insects are always hovering around these beautiful small flowers.
Leaves: are lanceolate, a mid green. Most stems are green and well clothed with leaves.
Salvia ‘Mystique’ : was found as a mystery plant in Meg Bentley’s garden many years ago.
This is a neat and tidy compact shrub, liking a full sun position. It certainly loves the summer and able to tolerate a light frost, this makes this shrub a tough and hardy plant. It certainly loves the summer and is equally cold hardy.
Although loving a sunny position, it can successfully be grown in dappled shade, but might grow a bit lanky, so needs to be carefully clipped.
A shrub that is perfect for the middle of a small bed or in front of a large bed of mixed shrubs. As ‘Mystique’ doesn’t grow too tall, it can be grown successfully in a mixed border with other pastel and brightly coloured small shrubs and perennials.
Being in flower for most of the year, it attracts all sorts of insects, moths and butterflies, especially if there is a lack of near by flowers in the winter.
When most of the flowers have finished in late winter, early Spring it’s time to tidy the shrub, looking at the shape and size. If it has grown too tall or extended it’s self, then prune down to a good green bud or new shoots appearing along the base of the stems. When these appear, this indicates it’s time to remove the old stems . Take out any dead or twiggy stems and clean up beneath the shrub.
When the warm temperatures begin, then these new shoots should be strong and growing well. Feed again and top up the mulch to keep the roots cool during the hot dry Summer season. Although a tough hardy plant, liking a sunny position, it does appreciate a good watering when hot and dry.
Propagation: is usually by tip cuttings of new growth at any time of the year. See the propagation page on how to take cuttings and the recommended propagation mix.
