What is flowering now
Salvia tuerckheimanii
Salvia tuerckheimanii is the flower of the month for August. Coming from high up in the mountains of Dominica, it only flowers in the colder months, looking spectacular and bright and cheery on these cold mornings.
Flowers:These have a narrow tubular rusty orange/ red coloured flower. The narrow hood is straight with exerted stigmas, which looks to extend the hood to being long and narrow.
The bottom lobes all curled back, with a yellow beeline, enticing the insect or honeyeater to explore further into the flower.
Flowers are very dense as they are in layered whorls of 6 flowers around a stem. There are at least 2 layers, where a few flowers will open, others ready to open and others still in bud waiting until the first flowers are finished. This method helps to extend the flowering period and attract more insects.
Flowers appear at the beginning of winter and will continue until the spring when temps begin to rise.
The flower stems are held well above the foliage to attract passing insects.
Calyces:these are green, ribbed with narrow pointed lobes, that are often curved, but the tips can colour up to mingle with the colour of the flowers. These will fall off when all the flowers have finished.
Leaves: are a narrow lanceolate shape, mid green on top and paler beneath, well veined, a slightly rough texture, with very small, rounded crenulations around the edge.
Most stems are well clothed with leaves.
Salvia tuerckheimanii is a bushy, upright open shrub , 1.5 – 2mH. A very elegant Salvia to have in the garden.
It certainly adds to a shrubbery, when it flowers. Having such unusual coloured flowers, it stands out, so needs to be paired with other dense shrubs that either don’t really flower or flower at a different time of year.
Plant in a sunny protected position, although this shrub will take a light frost and does well in the cold winter months.
It is tough and hardy during the hot dry summer months , especially when mulched to keep the root area cool.
Maintenance: Although this is an open shrub, it is generally neat and tidy, only requiring trimming back to maintain it’s height and spread.
Propagation: generally by tip cutting when new growth appears in Spring and summer. Easily struck. See more tips on How to take cuttings on the propagating page.
Plant of the Month over the past few Years
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