Salvia forsskaolii
Forsskal's sage
Also known as Salvia tachiei
- Height × spread
- 0.9m × 1m
- Position
- Full sun
- 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
This beautiful plant makes a commanding foliage clump with big, hairy rather conical leaves. They have a rough surface with impressed veins. From this mound arise large flowering inflorescences that carry the white and purple flowers. The flowers have two distinct violet purple lips, one on each side of the gaping eager mouth. The lower lip curls back on itself and displays cream streaks and yellow marks which, for bees, are runways that signpost the nectar. The whole has a light, bright appearance. It flowers from July through to mid- or late September. Although this is a perennial it is sometimes grown as an annual. It stands around 90cm (3ft) high with a 1m (3ft) spread. Give it a site that is sheltered from sun at height of day with light fertile well drained soil.
- Flower colour
- Purple, White
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- Yes
- Shape
- Column
- Height
- 0.9m
- Spread
- 1m
- Season of interest
- Summer, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Wild flower meadow, Seaside garden, Scented garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, likes part shade, tolerates light shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam (normal), Poor soil, Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Dry soil
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Bee attraction, Sensory garden (tactile)
- 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 in dry periods
Established plants in the ground can cope with 7-10 days of dryness, and shrubs often manage 2 to 3 weeks. Water one section of the garden thoroughly each day rather than a little everywhere. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather.
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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