Salvia ‘Happy Pink’ (microphylla): is a small bushy subshrub 60cm H for a sunny position with bright pink flowers during the spring and summer.
Salvia ‘Happy Pink’: is a bright small shrub for any garden.
Flowers: are a fuchsia pink colour in a typical microphylla type shaped flower. Most of the flower is the same colour, with the hairy erect hood being slightly paler at the end and a dark stripe on the inside just above the throat. This pale stripe coincides with the prominent white beeline stripe on the middle lobe.
The middle lobe is wide, slightly split and joins with the two side lobes. These side lobes are a slightly darker pink than the middle lobe.
Flowers can appear for most of the year, but the main flowering period is from spring through summer and into autumn. These are held in pairs on a coloured stem, held above the foliage to attract passing bees and insects.
Calyces: are a pinkish green colour with crimson coloured tips on the exposed sides. Each pointed lobe is well ribbed. these fall off unless pollinated with seeds swelling inside.
Leaves: are a midgreen colour, oblong in shape, well veined with small crenulations around the edges.
Salvia ‘Happy Pink’: is a bright small shrub for the front of the bed or for a mixed border. As this is a neat shrub, it can be grown along a path as an informal hedge as it clips well.
Grown in full sun, it is tough and hardy for the hot, dry summer season as well as the cold winter months and any light frosts that might occur.
Plant with other brightly coloured small shrubs. Other vivid purples, bright blues, white and soft pinks would compliment and contrast well with this fuchsia coloured Salvia. As the name implies, it is a bright, happy type of pink to have in the garden.
At the end of summer and autumn when the shrub may be a bit straggly, then it’s time to trim and neaten. Take out any dead or twiggy stems, cut down to a good green bud. The new growth will invigorate the shrub. If growing as a informal hedge, then trim to neaten, taking off any dead and spent flower stems. It’ll only be a few weeks until is back in flower again.
Feed and mulch for the winter cold, keeping the root area warm during the colder months, then in spring, feed and mulch again to keep the root area cool during the hot dry summer months.
Propagation: is usually by tip cuttings taken at most times of the year.