Salvia disjuncta: An interesting upright slender clumping perennial 1-1.2m H with bright red flowers in late winter and heart shaped leaves.
Salvia disjuncta: is a tough hardy plant for full sun.
Flowers: Red fat tubular flowers, the hood being furry with a very pale stripe down the center matching the beeline at the throat. The bottom lobes are all the same colour but extended out to act as a landing place for bees, insects and small birds with long beaks that are able to penetrate into the flower.
Flowers are clustered at the top of the stem in pairs to attract any passing bees and birds, appearing in late winter/ spring. Each flower is nestled between the leaves.
Both bees and birds enjoy hanging off the flowers.
Calyces: are green, which contrast well with the red of the corolla. Often the exposed sides are coloured, but may remain almost white if kept shaded by the leaves. Calyces are ribbed, slightly hairy with pointed lobes. If the flowers are not pollinated, they will drop off when the flower is finished.
Leaves: area mid green colour, small, triangular heart shaped, with a truncated base and a pointed tip. Well veined, slightly hairy with small crenations along the margins.
The leaves are seen in pairs nestling beneath each pair of flowers on short petioles. Both the leaves and the flowers come from the same whorl, the leaves in one direction and the flowers in the other direction.
Salvia disjuncta: is interesting as tall thin stems often form clumps.
Excellent as a filler for those odd spots between shrubs. Perfect as a backdrop to low ground covers or small shrubs and perennial. Works well as a tall accent in a mixed border. Does very well grown in a lineal line so it later forms a clump behind a low hedge.
This is a tough hardy perennial, growing well in either full sun or dappled shade. Tough and hardy for summer heat and the winter cold, able to tolerate a light frost. A very easy plant to grow and leave alone to do it’s own thing.
After most of the flowers have finished in early spring, it’s time to tidy the clump, by checking in which direction the clump is growing, taking out those stems that are not wanted. Cut out any dead or less robust stems and clear away any old leaves. Feed and mulch well to keep the root area cool in the hot dry summer months.
Propagation: is usually by tip cuttings taken from new growth.