Salvia ‘Pink Champagne’: is a small microphylla type subshrub 60-80cm H with pale pink white flowers and very dark calyces most of the year.
Salvia ‘Pink Champagne’: was found as a seedling in the garden of Lyndi Garnett.
Flowers: are a typical microphylla shape with a cream tube and hood covered with pale hairs .The middle bottom lobe is white / cream, wide and split, these lobes reach up to the other 2 lobes. The 2 side lobes have some pale pink colouring , this colouring is especially evident around the throat, but the beeline is white.
Flowers appear in spring and can continue through most of the year. These are held above the foliage to attract passing bees and other pollinating insects.
Calyces: are very attractive being so dark. Almost a purple black. Each lobe is pointed and distinctly ribbed.
Flowers are held in small clusters at the end of a flowering stem. When pollinated the calyx will remain, becoming a straw colour. These will remain until the plant is cut back or trimmed or dead headed.
Leaves: are a typical microphylla shape leaf, these being elongated and elliptical/ lanceolate with veins and small crenations along the edges. The leaves are larger rather than small with most stems being well clothed.
Salvia ‘Pink Champagne’: is a very attractive shrub. all the cream, white and pink colouring contrasting with the dark calyces makes this Salvia an eye stopper.
This can be compared with S. ‘Heatwave Glimmer’, but ‘Glimmer’ has mainly a white flower with a tinge of pale pink in the tube, where as ‘Pink Champagne’ is predominately cream with tinges of pink throughout the whole of the corolla and throat area.
This is a tough hardy plant for a full sun position, tolerating the heat and dry of summer, the cold and light frosts of winter and early spring.
Plant with other colourful small shrubs and perennials. The cream/white colouring of the flowers and the dark coloured calyces blends well with vibrant purples, reds/ crimsons and clear yellows.
At the end of summer when the main flowering period has finished, then is the time to cut back and refresh the bush with new growth. Cut stems down to a good green bud, clean out any dead or twiggy growth, feed and mulch well to keep the roots warm during the cold winter months. In spring before the shrub begins flowering again, feed and top up the mulch to keep the root area cool during the hot dry months of summer.
Propagation: Cuttings are easily taken from tip cuttings at any time of year.