Salvia disermas x ‘Purple’: a hardy clumping Salvia, 60-80cm H.with many small flowers in spring and summer for a sunny position.
Salvia disermas x ‘Purple’: is another clumping form of this group of tough Salvias, but with purple flowers.
Flowers: are small pale purple in colour, falcate type of flower with the hood being a pale mauve, and the lower lobes a different purple. The middle lobe is often cupped to hold a dollop of dew and act as a landing place for bees and other pollinating insects.
Just around the throat area are some lovely markings to act as a beeline to entice the bees further into the flower.
Flowers occur in whorls of 4-6 flowers,at regular intervals along a long, thick erect hairy flower stem. Flowers are small but profuse on multiple stems well above the foliage to attract passing bees and insects. These can bee seen from late winter, through the summer and into the autumn.
Calyces: are green and hairy, with each lobe being ribbed and having a blunt pointed tip Often there are dried calyces below with seed whilst there are new buds opening at the tip. Bees and other insects really enjoy these flowers. Flowering stems with dried calyces full of seed will remain until cut down.
Leaves: are broad, elongated cordate, grey/ green leaves with small rounded lobes that are softly crenulated along the margins. Leaves are hairy both sides, often smaller leaves are seen along the flower stems.
Salvia disermas x ‘Purple’: is very similar to the x ‘Pink’ form, growing as a clump, enjoying a full sun position. Plant at the front of an informal border or just behind small perennials or in the middle of a larger bed allowing the flower heads to poke up behind smaller shrubs and perennials.
As the flower colour is pale, plant with other pale or cerise pinks, whites and even yellows and oranges to add a contrast.
This is a hardy , tough Salvia enduring dry summer heat and winter cold as well as frosts. Any soil will do but needs to be well drained and in full sun.
At the end of summer, when most of the flowers have finished, then it’s time to tidy up. Collect any seed before cutting off all the old flower stems down to the base, leaving any new stems and new growth to flourish and renew the clump. Clean away any old leaves.
Feed and mulch to keep the area warm during winter. In spring, feed again and mulch well to keep the root area cool over the hot dry summer months.
Propagation: is usually by new growth cuttings taken from the base. Seed can also be sown in the warmer months. – see seed sowing page for tips.