Salvia or Sage is a very large and
varied group of aromatic and often hairy or wooly leaved plants. They
are mainly medium sized blue or purple flowered plants with highly
aromatic leaves.
Salvias are good for a sunny border in
full sun or sometimes in light dappled shade as long as they get full
sun for at least part of the day. The hairy leaved varieties tend to be
the most drought resistant and also the least tolerant of winter
wet.
The group as a whole will grow in some
very hot and dry conditions and will also withstand very cold winters,
what they don't like is wet in winter when a relatively mild winter can
cause the demise of a plant that would be quite happy in much colder
conditions if it were drier. Incorporating gravel or grit at planting
time will help and also planting on top of a slope where drainage will
be sharper.
Sages are generally trouble free though
may be susceptible to rots and fungus in damp conditions and also to
slugs and snails when the leaves are emerging.
Like all aromatic plants, their leaf oils
are produced most abundantly in hot and dry conditions,
Propagation is by seed usually sown in a
coldframe in summer, or by softwood or semi-ripe cuttings taken in
spring or early summer. Rooting can be slow and the growing medium
should contain a high proportion of sharp sand, about 50% to prevent rot
through standing in excess wet.
