What is flowering now
Salvia squalens
Salvia squalens is our Flower of the Month for August.
A very an interesting mid sized shrub 1mH with only one or two stems, large furry leaves and a wonderful head of vermillion coloured flowers, which the bees love, especially as it flowers throughout winter.
Salvia squalens seems to flower almost all the year once flowering has begun .
Flowers:
These vermilion semi tubular flowers are formed at the end of a slender flower head.
Hood: is vermilion, straight with an orange stigma exerted from tip.The tip is separated into 2 lobes.
Bottom lobes are a slightly paler colour, the middle lobe is very wide and flat, almost as if there are 2 separate lobes . The 2 side lobes are tucked in nicely on top of the middle lobe.
The flowers are held in a loose whorl, extending out in all directions to attract any passing bees and pollinating insects.
Calyces: are green, and very slender, and slightly hairy. Lobes are slender and very pointed with a soft tip. They seem to drop off after the flower has finished.
Leaves: are large, cordate/lanceolate and very fissured with indented veins to guide any moisture down to the stems and roots. As the leaves are slightly hairy, this and the smell of the leaves is a deterrent to animals foraging.
Most of the leaves are held at the top of the stem beneath the flower heads. This is also a tactic to prevent small ground animals from foraging.
Unfortunately the position of the leaves allows the plant to become very woody.
Salvia squalens is a plant that should be planted behind other small shrubs and perennials, where you can easily see that beautiful head of vermilion flowers. Plant it behind a small hedge “where you can se it’s beautiful face and not it’s hairy legs”
Unfortunately it doesn’t prune well. Although you’ll have a bare main stem, DON’T cut it down, S.squalens doesn’t regrow, BUT any cuttings taken usually strike easily.
Grow in full sun, it’s not fussed about the soil, proving very hardy for the summer season and frost tolerant.
A great plant to brighten up a dull bed or a drab corner.
Having flowers in winter, certainly provide plenty of food for small birds, bees and moths which love visiting this shrub.
Maintenance: As the plant flowers in winter, wait until spring when the new growth begins to appear before cutting off spent flower stems.
In spring, feed well and mulch to keep the roots cool in the summer season.
Propagation: Tip cuttings of new growth is advisable, taken when new shoots appear in spring, before the flower buds appear.
