Salvia   ‘Salmia’ series

The ‘Salmia’ series : are our flowers for November.
These  are both flowering now, so should be celebrated. Both are bushy shrubs 80cm -1mH with  dark green leaves, that need a sunny position that is protected from frost and harsh winds.
Both have beautiful spires or either a bright orange or  lovely pink flowers .

These originated as “Cell Stem Tissue” from America. They are very similar to the “Wishes” series in colour and structure. They have also been known as the “Fashion” series.
These flowers do have the Salvia guaranitica gene and crossed with Salvia splendens, which shows in the calyces.

Flowers: are long spires of tubular flowers in an open whorl  of 6 flowers.

The bottom middle lobe is either cupped or facing down. This is usually a slightly paler colour than the hood and tube and often has markings to act as a beeline, guiding the bees and insects further into the flower. But normally these tubular flowers are pollinated by birds, usually little Eastern Spinebills or other small Honeyeater birds, that can extend their long narrow beaks into these tubular flowers to get to the nectar
Each middle lobe is cupped until the flower is visited, then that lobe begins to hang down, indicating that the flower has been visited.

Flowers begin to appear in early spring: they will  continue to flower throughout summer and well into Autumn.
All flowers are held above the foliage to attract passing birds and pollinating insects.

Calyces: are a typical Salvia spendens calyx,looking papery. They are paler than the corolla, adding another layer of interest to the flowers. Each lobe ribbed and pointed. As very few of the flowers are pollinated, the calyces eventually drop off, leaving a green stem which should be regularly  dead  headed to tidy the bush.

Leaves:  are not small or large, but rather a nice oval/ ovate shape with slight lobes. A lovely dark green colour, smooth, with an almost glossy finish.