Salvia chionophylla: This is a lax, procumbent groundcover, 10cm H x 30-40cm, enjoying a dry sunny position with small mauve flowers in summer.
Salvia chinophylla: is a lovely groundcover when grown en masse.
Flowers: are small, pale blue / mauve with a pale mauve furry hood and a large extended darker mauve lower lobe which is slightly split. Quite a prominent white beeline is seen from the middle lobe extending up to the throat. This of course guides the bees and insects further into the flower.
Flowers are in small whorls of 6 flowers around a green / grey flower stem. The stem being only being 10-15cm long, is held above the foliage to attract passing bees and insects.
Flowers appear in summer and autumn. Insects and bees enjoy these flowers.
Calyces: are small, pale green / grey to match the colour of the leaves. Each calyx is ribbed extensively and the lobes pointed.
Leaves: are small, silver grey, very round with entire edges. these are placed opposite each other along the very long arching stems. At each node small clumping shoots appear which will extend into a long shoot.
Salvia chinophylla: is a very interesting Salvia can be used either as a groundcover on open ground. Grown en masse it makes quite a statement. If grown in a hanging basket, the stems arch nicely over the sides.
Plant in the foreground of the bed with either darkly coloured shrubs and perennials behind to show off the grey leaves or grow coloured leaf shrubs behind, again to show off the colour of the leaves.
Grow in full sun with good drainage. as it hates wet / cold conditions, but grows happy in sunny dry positions.
At the end of autumn, it is best to trim and clean out the plant, cutting away any dead stems and any build up excess of dried leaves beneath.
Feed and mulch well to keep the root area warm during the colder months and cool during the summer season.
Propagation: is usually by cuttings taken in spring from the new growth.
Not available.