Salvia oxyphora
Fuzzy Bolivian sage
- Height × spread
- 2m × 1.5m
- Position
- Tolerates part shade, tolerates light shade
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Flowers
- Summer, Autumn
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
Exotic and intriguing with stout stems carrying clusters of red flowers that are covered in noticeable hairs. The individual blooms are compact and oblong with jaunty open mouths. They open from small green calyces. The plant makes a good-sized mound of quite large rich green leaves, generally broadly lance-shaped with forward pointing toothy edges and impressed veins. This flowers in late summer and autumn. It is found growing in Bolivia and parts of Argentina in rocky places, enjoying moist subtropical conditions where it can attain a couple of metres in height. It is not frost-hardy. The plant has running roots, and curiously, is said to have never been found bearing seed heads. Bring in for winter or take cuttings.
- Flower colour
- Red
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Bell
- Height
- 2m
- Spread
- 1.5m
- Height in 10 years
- 1m
- Spread in 10 years
- 1m
- Season of interest
- Summer, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Seaside garden, Gravel garden, Exotic garden
- Sun or shade
- Tolerates part shade, tolerates light shade
- Soil type
- Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Use for
- Bedding plant, Bee attraction
- Maintenance
- Easycare – low/no maintenance
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water to keep the soil moist
For best results, this plant needs soil that is always moist. Water deeply and regularly as soon as soil appears dry. Even for established plants in the ground, a dry week can cause problems with some soils. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather. Or install an automatic irrigation system which will do the hard work for you, even when you are away on holiday.
Without regular watering some plants never fully regain their beauty.
Spring - mid-late · Planting
Trim the plant
Trim the plant to give it a general tidy. This includes removing any lengthy or awkward shoots that make the plant look visually less attractive. Remove any spent flower heads at the same time.
Planting & general
Compost · Planting
Loam based compost + grit for repotting
Use a free draining loam based compost rather than one which has been modified to be 'moisture retentive'.
Alternatively prepare a compost using three parts of loam (John Innes no. 2 or 3) to one part of (horticultural) sand or fine (horticultural) grit.
Found in
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