What is flowering now
Salvia elegans Pineapple Sage
Salvia elegans is our Flower of the Month for May.
A lovely clumping perennial, being a medium sized clump of approx 1.2mH with long spires of bright red flowers, mainly seen in autumn/winter, but occasionally will flower in summer.
Salvia elegans flowers mainly in the autumn/ winter .
Flowers: are small flowers on a congested head, in tight whorls of 4, with another whorl ready to open when the first one finishes .The hood and lobes are the same colour red. The 2 smaller side lobes are tucked in neatly beside the middle lobe. The middle lobe is narrow and elongated acting as a landing place for bees and other insects.
The flower stem is quite short, being clustered at the top of the stem, being held above the foliage to attract passing bees, moths and insects.
Flowers are often used as a decoration to drinks and punches. The flower stems can be used as a cut flower when still in bud or just unfurling.
Calyces: are green, fairly short on, hairy with each lobe is well ribbed, pointed.,
The square flower stem is green and hairy with short soft hairs.
Calyces drop off when the flowers are finished, leaving a old flower stem that needs removing to keep the plant looking tidy.
Leaves: are a fresh green, slightly hairy on both surfaces, lanceolate in shape with a pointed apex.
Leaves have a lovely pineapple scent. These fragrant leaves can be used in cooking or as a tea.
Pineapple Sage, produces makes a very upright clump. Unfortunately the clump can expand through out a growing season. These stems are easily pulled out where they are not wanted.
Grow in full sun, it’s not fussed about the soil and although very hardy for summer heat and dry, will always appreciate a drink of water on those hot days. It will tolerate the winter cold but may need a protected position from frost.
A great shrub for the back of a large bed, a bright feature plant for the garden, lighting up an ugly part of the garden.
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 down spent stems. These old stems can be cut down to the ground. This allows the new growth to shoot up quickly. It’s at this stage that checking on any wayward stems can be assessed.
In spring, when the old stems have been removed, feed well and mulch to keep the roots cool in the summer season.
If any of the stems grow too long, encroaching on other plants or overhang a path too much, these can be either cut back to the base or just clipped. It will clip quite well along side a path, allowing the central part of the plant to remain in flower.
Propagation: Tip cuttings are easily taken at any time of year, or side shoots can be easily dug up and potted up.
