Salvia discolor

Salvia discolor

This is a very drought-tolerant salvia, with silvery-white stems and under-leaves, and very deep navy - almost black - flowers held in silver-green calyces, forming a most effective combination. It hails from Peru. The whole plant has a sticky feel, and it seems to trap pests this way. The leaves have an astringent fragrance. It is a sprawling plant with slim stems up to 1m long and benefits from support from plant cradles or nearby shrubs. Its width is around 1m. It flowers over a long period from late spring to autumn; even in winter in mild climates. It likes quite a dry, sunny position and can cope with considerable lack of water; it can cope with a bit of shade as well. It is excellent if grown in a container. The colour of the blooms calls out for dark companions, such as a black-leaved Phormium cultivar. Remove lanky stems during the growing season and prune hard in late winter. It is frost-sensitive.