Salvia ezi – matudae: A tall upright bushy shrub to 2mH with cerise semi tubular flowers in spring , early summer for a sunny protected position.
Salvia ezi-matudae: likes a sunny protected position against wind and frost.
Flowers: are small,semi tubular shaped,both the hood and bottom lobes are about the same size, both are cerise with the hood having lots of cerise hairs, so it looks furry.
All lobes. are slightly curled back to open the throat area. A faint beeline can be seen at the throat to guide the bees and birds into the corolla.
Flowers are in pairs along a green flower stem, held high above the foliage to attract passing birds, bees and other pollinating insects.
The buds are narrow, tight with very long elongated bracts, which fall off when each flower opens. These appear in late winter /spring continuing into early summer.
Calyces: are bright green on a thin green stem. Lobes are pointed, smooth and slightly ribbed. As the flower stem is not too long, when the flowers have finished, just a green stem is left, which can be cut off to tidy the shrub.
Leaves: are cordate in shape, mid green in colour, shiny with distinct midribs and veins , a smooth texture being paler underneath and small crenations along the edges.
Salvia ezi-matudae: is a plant for a sunny protected area or dappled shade as it doesn’t like hot dry positions, nor does it like cold positions. Once happy, it will flourish sending up multiple stems and producing large leaves.
Plant with other medium to tall sized shrubs at the back of the bed to use as a background to small subshrubs and perennials. Vibrant purples,bright blues, pale pinks and whites team very well with the cerise flowers.
When flowers are finished, cut off spent flower stems and tidy the bush. remove any dead or spindly stems. Feed and mulch well to keep the roots cool during the hot summer months.
Propagation: Easy to propagate with new tip cuttings, these should be taken in spring when the weather is warm but not too hot.
Not often available