Seductive salvias
Salvias are one of the largest plant groups (more than 900 species), with an astonishing array of colours and form.
Most people recognise the kitchen herb sage but there are many other perennial salvias that are ornamental and flower throughout the year.
Countless perennial salvias flower throughout the winter months and provide nectar for honeyeaters when not much in the garden is in flower. Most salvias also have highly fragrant leaves.
Salvias fit well in the native garden because they are tough and require very little water once established. I have more than 20 different varieties and love watching the little birds jump between them and the kangaroo paws.
The Wishes series that was released over the past few years are great performers because they are fast growing, dry tolerant and low maintenance with striking coloured flowers and maintain a compact growth.
Wendy's Wish has bright cerise flowers on a compact shrub. Once it finishes flowering, cut it back by two-thirds and it will burst back into flower. It will grow to about 1m high and 1m wide.
Love and Wishes has lush green foliage and contrasting vibrant purple flowers supported by deep purple calyxes. Tubular flowers cover the plant over the warmer months, borne on 30cm deep purple stems. This is one of my favourites because of the contrasting colours. It is a smaller grower, getting to only 80cm high.
Ember’s Wish has brilliant red flowers with rosettes of broad leaves and erect stems. It grows to a height of 1-1.3m and 1m wide and looks fantastic with other hot colours of orange and pink.
