Salvia pratensis ‘Skydance’: is a herbaceous perennial 60-80cmH, with a basal clump and spikes of pale blue flowers in spring and summer.
Salvia pratensis ‘Skydance’ is a very showy flower if planted en mass.
Flowers: are a falcate type with a large gap between the hood and lower lobes. These are is a pale blue colour, the hood is a sickle shape with an exerted white stigma, coming from the tip of the hood. The lower lobes are a paler colour. The middle lobe is cupped to hold a drop of moisture and act as a landing place for bees and insects. The 2 side lobes are nicely tucked beside the middle lobe, both being the same colour as the middle lobe. Lovely blue markings appear towards the throat to guide the bees further into the flower.
Several branched spikes or more can be seen coming from the rosette of leaves, growing to approx 60-80cmH. well above the clump of leaves to attract passing insects. These appear in early to mid spring, continuing well into summer.
Flowers are in whorls of 4-6flowers around a green square flower stem. The whorls are placed regularly along the stem with the basal flowers opening, graduating up towards the top. Each whorl sits on a pair of small pointed green bracts.
Calyces: these are green, slightly hairy, well ribbed with pointed lobes. When the flowers have dropped off, then the calyces develop into a straw colour and remain until knocked off.
Leaves: are large in width and long ,with pointed lobes culminating into a pointed tip. The surface is slightly rugose, well veined with soft crenulations along the edges. Small pointed leaves clasp the stems under the spike of flowers. Pointed bracts sit beneath each whorl of flowers.
Although showy during the summer season, this beautiful Salvia ‘Skydance’ becomes dormant during winter.
Grow in full sun, in groups of 3-5 plants with other similar coloured herbaceous and evergreen perennials and small shrubs. When grown en mass they make a wonderful display with the pale blue being a contrast to any other pale pink flowers.
Not fussy with soil, but should be well drained. If the soil is too heavy without enough compost/ plant matter incorporated, then there is a chance that the crown will rot and not appear again in spring.
Once established, these plants can be tough and hardy during summer with the occasional extra watering during the dry periods.
Maintenance: During the growing season, mulch well to keep the root area cool during the hot dry summer. During Autumn when the plant is preparing to go down for winter, collect any seed that may have formed, cut down all flower stems and clean up the leaf base. Mulch the crown to keep the root area warm during the cold months of winter.
When the leaves begin to appear, then feed well and top up the mulch.
Propagation: usually by seed sown in warmer weather, but any large clumps can be divided or small new growths can be taken off either as cuttings or potted up as rooted slips. for more tips, visit the propagation page.
Not readily available