Salvia superba ‘Bouquetta’; is a low herbaceous plant producing a clump of basal leaves and vivid purple spikes of flowers in spring. Plant in a sunny position.
Salvia superba ‘Bouquetta’ makes an outstanding plant when out in full flower
Flowers: are a small falcate type flower. A magnificent vivid purple in colour with a curved or straight hood and very prominent white stigma extending out from the tip. All three bottom lobes are the same colour purple with only a small lighter patch around the throat, acting as a beeline to entice bees and other pollinating insects to explore further down the tube.
Flowers are in tight whorls of 6 flowers around a coloured stem.The flower stem is approx 15cm long with numerous whorls tightly packed. Open flowers at the bottom and ascending to the tip with more buds waiting to open once the bottom few have finished, thus continuing the flowering period for some weeks and months.
Buds begin to appear shortly after the clump of rosette leaves have emerged. Multiple flower stems appear in mid spring, coming into full flower in late spring and continue through out the summer months, making a magnificent display of purple spikes of flowers.
Flowers are held well above the foliage to attract passing insects. So often, these densely packed flower stems are buzzing with bees.
Calyces: these are small, being a dark pink colour along the ribs, each lobe is small but pointed with the same coloured small triangular bract beneath each whorl, giving the whole stem a more intense colour sensation. The top buds are pink, giving a nice contrast to the darker bracts and purple flowers.
When the flowers have finished, both the flowers and bracts will fall off. If pollinated the calyces will remain, becoming a straw colour, which will remain until knocked off full of seed.
Leaves: are small, broad lanceolate, mid green with a pointed tip. Leaves have a mild fissured texture, being able to direct any moisture towards the stem and down to the root area. Leaves have fine rounded crenulations around the edges. Although the basal leaves are long, there are only two sets of small sessile stem leaves along the flowering stem before the flowers begin.
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Salvia superba ‘Bouquetta’ makes a stunning display in either pots on the patio or planted in the garden.
This plant really makes a wonderful display planted as a border or en masse in a sunny position. Plant with other vividly coloured small shrubs and perennials with deep crimsons, whites to act as a foil or even bright yellows and oranges to add a lovely contrast. These vivid coloured plants will really brighten up any garden bed to become a show stopper.
Once established, S.’Bouquetta’ will be tough and hardy plant through the summer months, especially if mulched. Not fussed about the soil, provided it is well drained.
Maintenance: As this plant is herbaceous,( winter dormant), when it will begin to go down for winter, clean away old leaves, cut down any flowering stems by half,to act as markers when completely gone. These will prevent the crowns from being accidentally dug up or trodden upon. Mulch over the crowns to keep the root area warm during the winter months.
Just before the leaves begin to appear, feed well to give both the leaves and flower stems a boost. Top up the mulch for the coming dry summer season.
Propagation: seed is usually a good way to produce a lot of plants quickly – sow in late winter on a heated bed to get a good start for the new season. Cuttings can be taken when the leaves are advances and stems have 2-3 nodes, these are then treated like other cuttings, placed into a perlite mix until rooted. Slips can be found with new side growth. Try to get some roots with the slip, these should be treated as cuttings and placed into a perlite mix until enough roots have been produced and can be potted up.
Not readily available