What is flowering now
Salvia curviflora
Salvia curviflora: is or flower for the March.
This is a medium growing bushy perennial 1.2mH, forming a clump with bright cerise pink tubular flowers in spring, summer autumn to early winter – a long flowering period, which enjoys a sunny protected position.
Coming from Mexico is usually an under shrub to very high canopy trees.
Flowers: are long tubular, bright pink coloured. The hood is long and slightly curved, especially when in bud. The hood is covered with the same coloured pink hairs. All the lower lobes are fused together to form a slender recurved lower lobe. A faint pale beeline can be seen around the throat. Although the lower lobes are recurved, they open up the throat area to allow bees, birds and other pollinators access to the throat and to go further into the corolla to find that nectar.
Flowers are in simple whorls either side of the stem, usually 4 – 6 flowers. Flowers are evenly placed around the stem with moderate interval between whorls. Because of their pink colour, they stand out beautifully against the glossy green foliage. These flowers stems are held well above the foliage to attract passing bees and other pollinating insects.
Most flowers appear in spring , continuing through out the summer, into autumn and often into early winter. They make a wonderful display in autumn.
Calyces: are coloured, primarily green with greyish ribs, making a lovely contrast with the intense colour of the flower .Lobes are ribbed and pointed.
Calyces drop off after the flower has finished, leaving a green stem to be dead headed later.
Leaves: are a slender oval/ lanceolate shape, a mid green in colour and well veined. Petioles are short and green. Most stems are well clothed until the flower stem appears.
Salvia orbigneai forms a wonderful display when in flower.
This clumping perennial proves to be a good understorey plant to tall shrubs and trees, or under house eves, enjoying a sunny position, but tolerates partial shade. It does need protection from harsh winds, hot sun in summer and frosts in winter. It will always enjoy some extra water during the hot summer season.
Grow with other similar leafy shrubs and perennials. S. curviflora forms a good background plant for smaller shrubs or perennials, but also is a good filler, helping to fill an empty space under a tall shrub or tree e.g. a Eucalypt.
Plant with other pinks, blues and purples, use whites as a foil for other rich colour combinations, to provide a lovely soft but vibrant palette of colour to the garden. This makes a great display of colour, that brightens up any garden bed.
Maintenance: Keep dead heading flower heads when finished to encourage more flowers. Clean out in winter, taking out any dead or weak stems. As this is a clumping perennial, it may need to be reduced after a few years. This is easily done by digging or pulling out unwanted rooted stems. Feed well in spring and mulch well to keep the roots cool in the summer season and warm during winter.
Keep a watch for snails and slugs in spring when those fresh leaves appear.
Propagation: As this plant forms a clump, the easiest way to propagate is either from tip cuttings taken through out the year or dig up a rooted piece from the edge of the clump.
