Salvia oxyphora

Salvia oxyphora

Salvia oxyphora hails from Bolivia and is a beautiful plant, with amazing hairy flowers coloured hot pink. My first specimen died in the hot summer at the beginning of 2009 but I was advised to try another one and plant it in a semi-shaded spot: it is one of the Salvia species that actually enjoys some shade. Here it has done better though at times parts of it have died off, which seems to be a common problem with this species.

Flowering seems to occur in summer and autumn. It has very attractive glossy leaves, and will grow to about 1.2-1.5m tall. The size of the individual flowers is quite large and the overall effect is very striking. The plant may sucker - so be careful of where you plant it if this is going to be a problem. Cut it back at the end of winter and fertilise at the same time. Propagate from cuttings taken in spring or autumn. It is sensitive to hard frosts.

Postscript: in the end, I removed my specimen. I loved the flowers but it kept dying off in sections yet spreading wildly underground. If I were to grow it again, I would have it in a pot.