Salvia nemorosa ssp ‘Tesquicola’: is a herbaceous perennial 60-80cmH, with grey green leaves, multiple spires of purple flowers and crimson bracts in spring and summer.
Salvia nemorosa ssp ‘Tesquicola’ is a very showy plant when grown en masse.
Flower are a falcate type flower with a large opening between the hood and the lower lobes. All parts of the flower is a blue purple, the hood is straight, pointing upwards with a white stigma curling back over the hood.
The lower middle lobe is cupped to hold a drop of moisture and act as a landing place for bees and other pollinating insects. The 2 side lobes are tucked in nicely beside the lobe.
The throat area has paler markings to guide the insects further into the flower.
All flowers are in whorls of 4-6flowers, these are tightly packed along the flower stem at regular intervals, till the top bud is open. Under each whorl is a small crimson triangular bract which remains, even after the flower has finished. These coloured bracts give the impression of more colours within the whole flower head.
All flowers are held above the foliage to attract passing pollinating insects. Bees adore these flowers. Most of the flowering period is in spring, until mid summer.
Calyces: These are highly coloured, being a purplish crimson, almost matching the colour of the bracts. Ribs are purple with small crimson hairs. Lobes are all pointed. These gradually turn a darker colour if the flower hasn’t been pollinated, but becoming a dark straw colour if the bees have visited.
The crimson bracts remain even after the flowers and calyces have dropped off.
Leaves: are grey green, quite large, long, lanceolate in shape, slightly fissured texture with a pointed tip and fine crenulations along the edges. Leaves are sessile along the stem and slightly aromatic.These are in alternating positions to give each pair enough room to receive enough sun.
Salvia ‘Tesquicola’ is one of the few nemorosa style Salvias that keep their bracts after the flower has finished.
Grow in full sun, in groups of 3-5 plants with other similar coloured herbaceous and evergreen perennials and small shrubs. When grown en mass they make a wonderful display with those rich purple flowers and crimson bracts. This colouring does well with near by pale pinks, whites, soft yellows and rich blues which add a good contrast to the garden bed. This rich purple colour is a good blend for other strong coloured perennials grown near by.
Not fussy with soil, but should be well drained. If the soil is too heavy without enough compost/ plant matter incorporated, then there is a chance that the crown will rot and not appear again in spring.
Once established, these plants can be tough and hardy during summer with the occasional extra watering during the dry periods.
Maintenance: During the growing season, mulch well to keep the root area cool during the hot dry summer. During Autumn when the plant is preparing to go down for winter, collect any seed that may have formed, cut down all flower stems and clean up the leaf base. Mulch the crown to keep the root area warm during the cold months of winter.
When the leaves begin to appear, then feed well and top up the mulch.
Propagation: usually by seed sown in warmer weather, but any large clumps can be divided or small new growths can be taken off either as cuttings or potted up as rooted slips. for more tips, visit the propagation page.
Not readily available