Salvia Ember's Wish

Salvia Embers Wish

This compact Salvia is a cousin to the very popular 'Wendy's Wish', 'Love and 'Wishes' and 'Kisses and Wishes', which have proved to be great performers in Sydney gardens (and in many other areas as well). It has large, coral-red flowers held in dusky calyces, similar in shape to those of 'Wendy's Wish', and like that cultivar, it blooms over a long period of time. It is also a compact plant, growing to around 1 m in height. It enjoys a sunny spot in reasonable soil, but can cope with a little shade. It is fairly drought tolerant once established, only needing watering when it is very hot in summer. In mild areas it can be pruned back by a half to one-third in late May. It will regrow over winter. In frosty regions, wait till late winter before pruning. When it gets woody after a few years, replace it with a fresh plant. It can grow in a container. It is sensitive to hard frosts. I think all the 'Wish' cultivars do best with plenty of space around them. Hemmed in by other plants they don't seem to flourish as well.

In my garden, I enjoy growing this plant next to a coleus with bold similar-coloured red markings, and a lime-yellow Justicia brandegeeana (shrimp plant). Part of the proceeds of sales of this plant are donated to Make-A-Wish Australia. This organisation grants cherished wishes to seriously ill children and has been operating in Australia since 1985. Salvia 'Ember's Wish' has been named in memory of Emma and Brett Shegog, who lost their lives due to a rare genetic disorder.