Shop Products
Houzz Logo Print
mehitabel_gw

Salvia Black & Blue, need inf

mehitabel
9 years ago

Hi, everyone. I know several people here have Salvia guarantica Black and Blue (or relatives). I've never had this before, so don't know what it should look like.

The three I planted this spring have leaves that are lime green (kind of yellowish rather than rich deep green). I don't think they were like this when I got them, just can't remember. think I may have overwatered them.

Will someone who has grown these please tell me what these are supposed to look like so I'll know if mine are sick? Leaves rich dark green? Also are they water hogs or water shy?

Any replies will be appreciated.

Comments (23)

  • Robert (zone 7a, Oklahoma)
    9 years ago

    Hi Mehitabel!

    The young growth is a lighter yellowish/green compared to the older growth.
    I snapped this pic at lunch of a clump that I moved last year and moved additional pieces in the foreground this year.

    Are you growing yours in the ground or in a pot?
    You might be over watering or they might be yellowish from the cooler temps?

    They can be water hogs but only when they're big and have plenty of thirsty leaves.

    They're very tough plants though.

    -Robert

  • mehitabel
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Hi, Robert. Thanks so much for the quick reply. And for taking the trouble to take a picture for me. That was above and beyond. Thank you!

    I think mine are yellower than than the two in front, but it's hard to be sure. There's no dark-green on mine at all, but not sick-yellow yet. They're maybe 6 inches high.

    They're in the ground, and seemed to be getting their feet planted, tho not growing fast yet. But yesterday I noticed the yellow cast and it seemed to have increased. But not enough to be sure.

    So I'm afraid I might have done for them, but I guess I'll know in about a week or so. You'd think after 50 years of gardening you'd stop making dumb mistakes, wouldn't you? :D

    Thanks again for the very-prompt help.


  • Debra Vessels
    9 years ago

    I planted two black and blue the first week in April, they have had snow, another freeze, then 100 degrees and constant wind, mine also were a very light green, and burned, curled leaves. I have never had these before, so I was concerned I might be over watering to make up for the dry winds. They looked horrible, but yesterday I noticed the one that gets less sun is looking much better and even has some black buds on it, the one in full sun is just about to get some buds. They are not the healthiest plants I have ever seen, but they are looking a bit better. Maybe they needed the hotter weather. I have had a lot of plants this spring that are not a healthy dark green, maybe it is the lack of sun and heat. I do tend to over water new plantings, and I usually give them a healthy dose of organic fertilizer when I plant, so I always second guess myself with "too much food, not enough" .
    Keep us posted on how yours do. I did lose two of my Greggii, a red and pink, and my agastache to the late freeze. So I have three spots for replacements. Makes me sad when they don't come back...
    Deb

  • mehitabel
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    It's very useful to hear about yours, Deb. I checked mine out again this everning and the "yellow" is definitely not sick-yellow. I gave them a little bit of ironite hoping that would make them look better :)

    Very hot today, and did notice a few crispy edge leaves.

    Late frost. Those are heartbreaking. They may come back from the roots, tho. Wait and see before you pull them out. The roots should be able to handle a little frost. They get a couple of nights of 0 or -2, -3 here. I have Salvia greggii Wild Thing, but some greggii are more tender, I know.

    That wind you have sounds brutal. Does it blow most of the time?

  • misss
    9 years ago

    It sounds as if they need some fertilizer. These plants are heavy feeders. You should notice the very tips of the young leaves getting a darker green in a day or two after feeding them.

  • mehitabel
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Thanks for the tip about being heavy feeders, misss. Very helpful to know what to do and what to look for as the problem is corrected.

  • Robert (zone 7a, Oklahoma)
    9 years ago

    Haha. I didn't even think about fertilizer! I haven't been gardening for 50+ years but I'm no newbie either. ;)
    I spread Milogranite around the beds in the spring and I guess that does the trick.

    Last night I was determined to take down the feeder I finally broke down and bought since I haven't seen any hummers in over a week and put it back up in July until this morning when I saw a small bird coming to it and was thrilled to see a Downy Woodpecker drinking from it so of course now I HAVE to leave it up, right? Laugh.

    Glad somebody is liking my efforts! :)

    -Robert

  • mehitabel
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Robert, I love Downies. I guess he was drinking from the ant cup? Or maybe after some ants?

    In my other house we kept a suet feeder going and the Downy Papa would bring the babies and show them where to eat. I've never seen one in this house, but the trees are much farther away, so harder to see what's happening out there.

    I'm glad you're keeping the feeder up. Glad you got it, too. It's not much effort, I can change my two feeders in under 5', and I can't be sure they aren't visiting when I'm not watching even when I don't see them.

    Your many hummingbird plants + feeder provide the right environment for nesting as well, so now you have a five-star location for them :)

    It'll be interesting to see how many we actually get when the teenagers arrive. I'm not going to wish away the glorious month of June, but eagerly awaiting July as well :)

  • mehitabel
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    MissS, thanks again for the tip about fertilizer. It's just as you said, new leaves coming in dark green. Thank you verra much.

  • mehitabel
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Plants are now rich dark green, and have nearly doubled in size in a little more than a week thanks to the fertilizer. Does anyone know if all salvia are heavy feeders? For some reason I always think of them as wanting lean.

  • harryshoe zone6 eastern Pennsylvania
    9 years ago

    I'm a little late. Here are mine:

  • mehitabel
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Harry, that is gorgeous! I certainly hope I get blooms this year.

    And the whole garden, what I can glimpse is lovely. Thanks for the pictures

  • Debra Vessels
    9 years ago

    metitabel, I have one finally looking really good, not as good as harryshoes, but blooming and nice and green, and one that has a bloom, it does not get enough sun, but I have feed it, I may need to move it to a sunnier spot next year.

  • mehitabel
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    It's a beautiful plant in flower, Deb. Love the black and blue. Have you had any more visits from your hummers?

  • mehitabel
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Pleants are now about knee high, and have buds on them! I'm thrilled. Not sure it's hardy here and was so afraid it wouldn't bloom the first year. Nothing like a little extra fertilizer :)

  • Robert (zone 7a, Oklahoma)
    9 years ago

    Hooray! Black and Blue is surprisingly hardy, of course some coarse mulch in the winter will improve your chances. ;)
    Mine have been blooming away. Now I just need to wait until July to see some hummers on them!
    Oh, we're going to Colorado soon for vacation.
    I looked and the four most common hummers to see there are the Broad-tailed, Rufous, Calliope and Black-chinned.
    My friend is bringing her feeders so fingers crossed!
    No guarantee I'll spot any but I'll be thrilled if I do. :)

    -Robert

  • mehitabel
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Thanks for the good advice, Robert.

    My fingers are crossed for us all to have dozens of them zipping around in July (just a week now).

    Enjoy the vac. Hope you come back to a wonderful surprise.

  • Glen4sure
    9 years ago

    I planted this saliva 4 years ago and it spreaded through out the flower bed. I was able to transplant a small piece to other parts of my yard without buying anymore plants. I do not water often and when I do, I use miracle grow. This salvia is very beautiful and hardy. This past winter had no effect on it. My only complaint is that the saliva overcrowed and out grew other plants in my beds. Fall is when I thin out the salvia.

  • mehitabel
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Good to know that you can make more plants from pieces, glen4sure. Your plants are very beautiful, look wonderful.

  • glad2garden
    9 years ago

    I wish ours would over-winter, but it's too cold here. I have to buy new ones every spring, and they aren't cheap. But they're so beautiful and attract the hummers like crazy.

  • mehitabel
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Beautiful photo, glad2garden. I'm glad to hear the hummers love them. Mine are just starting to bloom, so haven't seen any hummers on them yet.

    The garden catalogs say Zone 7, so most likely it won't overwinter here, either. I might try a few pieces in water, see if I can keep them going over the winter. The stems just look like they would root in water.

  • Robert (zone 7a, Oklahoma)
    9 years ago

    They form dark tubers that you can dig up and store in the basement or inside like you can do with other tender tubers. :)

    -Robert

    Here is a link that might be useful: saving Black & Blue tubers

    This post was edited by robert1971 on Thu, Jul 3, 14 at 22:30

  • Lisa_H OK
    9 years ago

    I have mine growing under the shade of a chaste tree. They grow abundantly well there. I have had them there for at least five years, and the patch grows bigger every year.

Sponsored
Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes
Average rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars254 Reviews
Northern Virginia Design Build Firm | 18x Best of Houzz
More Discussions