Salvia ‘Greek Skies’: a tough, hardy shrubby perennial 60-80cm H, for the hot summer months. It has lovely grey leaves and masses of pink flowers.
Often Salvia ‘Greek Skies’ is called S.officinalis ‘Greek Skies’ or Salvia fruitcosa ‘Greek Skies’. This plant was a seedling from S. fruitcosa found here in a Melbourne garden. But so as not to confuse everyone, it is just referred to as S. ‘Greek Skies.
Flowers: are fat open falcate flowers. The main bottom lobe is mauve, the other 2 lobes are paler. The throat area being large and pale is used as a guide for bees and insects to enter the flower.
Flowers grow in whorls around a green stem with the green bracts often still attached. Calyces are ribbed, green, slightly hairy and often coloured on the exposed side. Flowers appear in spring and continue through out the summer months into autumn.
Leaves: are a grey / green, lanceolate with a pointed tip. Upper surfaces are softly textured with soft hairs beneath and margins being finely serrated. Petioles are long and also slightly hairy.
Leaves are held in clusters around the stem, but on a flowering stem, the leaves are held individually. Leaves are highly aromatic. They make the best herbal Sage tea.
As Salvia ‘Greek Skies’ has Mediterranean parents, this Salvia is best grown in full sun in a well drained soil. It does NOT like wet feet.
S. ‘Greek Skies’ grows very well during the winter months, often putting on new growth during this period, where as Salvia officinalis “Goes Off” during the colder months, often becoming mildewy.
Salvia ‘Greek Skies’: is a tough, hardy plant for the summer dry heat, the winter cold as well as tolerating frost.
Best grown in a sunny situation at the front of the bed in an informal border or behind a low ground cover. The grey leaves blend well with other silver / grey planting themes. Pale blue / mauve and purple flowered shrubs and perennials contrast well with these pink flowers in summer.
Very bee, butterfly and insect friendly.
Pruning: out any dead or weak stems will help to keep the plant healthy. Cut away any dead flower stems and trim lightly to keep the plant shape looking good.
Easily propagated from tip cuttings in the winter / spring months.