Salvia chamelaeagnea: is a tough medium shrub from Sth Africa, growing 1-1.2m H. with fragrant leaves and sprays of blue and white flowers in summer.
Salvia chamelaeagnea: is a tough, hardy plant from Sth Africa.
Flowers: are large, 2 toned pale blue and white falcate type flower, the hood being a lovely pale blue, whilst all the bottom lobes are white. These are cupped to act as a landing place for bees and other insects and to guide them further into the flower.
As the flowers are quite large, they are held in small clusters at the top of the flowering stem well above the foliage to attract passing insects.
The flowering stem is approx 10-15cm with the flowers beginning to open at the base and graduating up the stem as each flower finishes, this allows an extended flowering period.
Most flowers appearing from spring through summer and into autumn. Very bee and insect friendly.
Calyces: are a crimson purple/brown, fragrant, sparsely ribbed with fat pointed lobes. These are held in small whorls of 4 flowers in clusters along the flowering stem.
Leaves: are a grass green colour, fragrant, an oblong shape, sharply lobed approx 30mm long with prominent crenations along the edge. These are stiffly held all along the stem to give an upright appearance.
Salvia chamelaeagnea: is a very good tough hardy shrub for summer heat and winter cold, tolerating a light frost.
New growth appears from the base, so can expand slowly to produce a clump. Clips well, making an excellent medium height hedge. If left to grow naturally, it can grow to a thicket, forming a windbreak to protect other plants from hot winds or sun. A very good plant for coastal areas.
Plant in full sun with other shrubs and perennial that enjoy similar growing conditions. Grow with other pink, white, blue and vivid purple perennials in an informal border.
At the end of autumn, it is best to cut out any unwanted shoots, if the clump has grown too large. Cut out old flowering stems and thick spent stems, so the new growth will regenerate the clump.
Propagation: usually from tip cuttings taken from new growth in early summer.