16 KEY SALVIAS
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1 Salvia ‘Flower Child’ One of the smallest forms of S. microphylla. The candy-floss pink flowers appear from July to October. 40cm. RHS H5†. 2 Salvia concolor A massive plant with deep royal-blue flowers on flower spikes that can be 50cm long. 2.5m. RHS H4, USDA 8a-10b.
3 Salvia ‘Ping Pong’ A new introduction from William that he selected for its densely packed flower spikes and long flowering period. The flowers are deep pink and appear from early June to October. 1m. RHS H5. 4 Salvia ‘Phyllis’ Fancy’ Its white flowers, the texture of velvet, become suffused with purple as they age and are held in dark-violet calyces. It was discovered in UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden. 2m. RHS H3. 5 Salvia ‘Amistad’ A spectacular tender perennial with aromatic foliage and masses of royal-purple flowers that have almost-black calyces. It starts flowering at the end of June and will continue up until October. 1.2m. AGM*. RHS H3, USDA 8a-11.
6 Salvia corrugata ‘Bright Lights’ A fast-growing shrub with aromatic foliage and whorls of violet-blue flowers at the end of the summer. Unlike most salvias, it prefers moist soil. Best grown in a pot and overwintered inside. 90cm. RHS H3.
7 Salvia ‘Nachtvlinder’ A shrubby, suckering plant found at the De Hessenhof nursery in the Netherlands. A floriferous plant, the flowers are a dark maroon-purple with a smoky sheen. 75cm. AGM. RHS H5. 8 Salvia ‘Amante’ Recently developed in Argentina, the silky purple-red flowers and dark calyces were a breakthrough in S. guaranitica hybrids, which are usually a shade of blue. 90cm. RHS H3, USDA 8a-11. *Holds an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. † Hardiness ratings given where available.
9 Salvia reptans ‘Texan Blue’ A midsummer-flowering herbaceous perennial that it is distinctly upright unlike the decumbent species. The flowers are a deep blue, as opposed to the pale blue of the species, with long, narrow leaves. 1m. RHS H4. 10 Salvia Amethyst Lips (=‘Dyspurp’) The bicoloured flowers are sometimes completely purple, other times entirely white, creating a striking effect reminiscent of S. ‘Hot Lips’. Raised by amateur plant breeder David Dyson. 1m. RHS H4.
11 Salvia bullulata ‘Blue Jade’ A pale-blue almost turquoise form of a rare and variable species from Peru. William has likened its colour to the jade vine Strongylodon macrobotrys and suggests growing it in partial shade. 60cm. RHS H2.
12 Salvia ‘Indigo Spires’ A popular hybrid with long spikes of dark-blue flowers and grey-green foliage. Often needs to be staked to prevent flopping over. Flowers all summer but at its best in autumn. 1.2m. RHS H3. 13 Salvia discolor A straggly plant with aromatic silvery foliage, slightly stick-like stems and almost-black flowers. A tender perennial that needs mollycoddling over winter. The crushed foliage smells of blackcurrant. 50cm. RHS H2.
14 Salvia ‘Crazy Dolls’ A compact, shrubby salvia bred in Belgium with a two-tone flower. The bottom lip is pale pink and the upper part of the flower magenta. 60cm. RHS H4.
15 Salvia oxyphora A perennial species from Bolivia with striking velvety flowers that have a sweet scent. It will grow in sun or part shade but keep it out of windy places as the stems are brittle. 1m. RHS H3. 16 Salvia ‘Jeremy’ Shrubby salvia similar to the popular S. ‘Hot Lips’ with flowers that are bicoloured in the height of summer and are either all pink or all white early and late in the season. 90cm. RHS H5.