Salvia ‘Bee’s Bliss’: is a wonderful ground cover from California. Grows only 10-20cm H in a full sun position. Fragrant leaves and sky blue flowers all summer.
Salvia ‘Bee’s Bliss’: is possibly a cross between S. leucophylla and S. sonomensis.
Flowers: are small, a light lavender / mauve colour. Each of the bottom lobes are flared out with the stigma and stamens very exerted. Each flower is held in a compound whorl which contains numerous flowers. The flowering stems may be 12 -15cm long, each with whorls all along the stem with good spacing between. These whorls of flowers stand well above the foliage to attract passing pollinating insects. Flowering from late spring, well into autumn.
Calyces: are a grey / green colour, often coloured at the tips. These are tightly held within the compound whorl around the stem. Each calyx is small with pointed lobes.
Leaves: are thin, lineal in shape, lightly textured and a grey / green colour. The margins are more or less entire. As with many Salvias from California, they all have aromatic leaves, which help to protect the plant from foraging animals, and gives off a delightful aroma when brushed against.
Salvia ‘Bee’s Bliss’: makes an excellent ground cover for an empty open space in full sun, spreading from 1/2 m to 1m in a sunny position.
It grows as a flat ground cover, often covered with flowers in summer that are very attractive to bees and other insects. Good for planting on a slope or bank or even as an edging along a path.
Plant in front of other small shrubs or perennials. This plant adds a lot of colour to a white or silver themed garden, not only with the leaves but with the numerous flowers in summer.
Not fussy about soil, but does need good drainage. ‘Bee’s Bliss’ is perfect for a dry gravel garden with other drought hardy Salvias. This is a tough, hardy Salvia withstanding frosts and winter cold as well as hot dry summers.
Mulch well to keep the root area cool during the summer and warm in the winter.
Maintenance: is fairly easy for this groundcover. Trim back any stems which are growing where they are not wanted. Cut out any dead or weak stems and clean away any excess dead leaves beneath, so they cause any rotting during the wet season.
Propagation is generally by cuttings taken in Spring and Autumn from new growth.
Not always available.