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wantonamara

Questions about Salvia namaensis

Can people tell me about their experience with Salvia namaensis. I just made a impulse buy at the store.Sun shade. soil?

Comments (15)

  • robinmi_gw
    10 years ago

    Salvia namaensis is a delightful species. From South Africa, it appreciates sun and warmth, and does not want to ever get waterlogged. Ideal for a scree or rockery.

    A very small Salvia, with extremely aromatic foliage, and cute pale blue flowers.

    Hope you will succeed with this little beauty!

  • wantonamara Z8 CenTex
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    How is it with sun and HEAT?

  • robinmi_gw
    10 years ago

    No problem!

  • wantonamara Z8 CenTex
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    100+ heat for weeks at a time with a 110+ possible? ⦠with humidity but not much rain but then we could get a tropical storm remnant. Tough weather for the shy retiring plant.

  • robinmi_gw
    10 years ago

    can only speak re a month of temps in the low 80s last year, as for 100+....cannot comment!!!

  • kermitc
    10 years ago

    In our experience, this plant can take 100 degree plus heat in full sun with minimal water. For weeks and weeks. I took a picture of it growing in a parking lot in Carmel Valley, CA last summer during a long stretch of 105, 107, 108 degree days. It didn't skip a beat. Looks better in fact than ours in the coastal cool.

  • wantonamara Z8 CenTex
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    THANKS! That is what I want to hear. I did read that it liked rocky limestone soil so I improved the natural soil that came out in chunks of limestone and some brownish grey stuff (Not much) and added a 50/50 washed granite sand compost mix. I only improved it a little keeping it character but improving the fertility. I guess I will need to mulch it in winter to get through my Z8b chill.

  • rich_dufresne
    10 years ago

    Salvia repens x namaensis `Savana Blue' is hardy in USDA Zone 8 and has similar needs. S. repens is also hardy. The hybrid came from Andy Maycen.

    I'm curious as to how hardy other South African sages are, including S. dolomitica, S. scabra, and S. dentata. I think S. chamelaeagnea can handle some frosts. S. dentata seems to have mostly survived my walk-in cold frame, which I heated only when it got below 25 F

  • wantonamara Z8 CenTex
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    The most it will get is a bunch of leaves and an upturned pot. It's life will be outdoors, for better or worse .

  • Tessiess, SoCal Inland, 9b, 1272' elev
    10 years ago

    Here's a picture of mine at the end of August 2013. Thought I bought it last year, but my records show it arrived in November of 2012. My camera doesn't capture the color all that accurately--it is more blue than the shot shows. I have it planted around 30 feet from the base of an 80+ foot tall ash tree, so it receives high shade/dappled sun for part of the day in the summer, and full sun the rest of the day. Full sun all day in the winter when the ash is dormant.

    S. namaensis started blooming in the spring of 2013 and bloomed steadily thru our baking summer heat (100+ days here are common). However, this is a dry heat, almost no humidity. Rainfall is low, and last year, as the drought continued, I don't think we had even 10 inches. The plant bloomed into December, and still had flowers, although fewer, throughout January and February. It required very little water, even in the heat of summer. Has stayed around 1 1/2 to 2 feet tall with a little wider spread. The foliage is very appealing to me as are the flowers. It's now a favorite and I just ordered another one.

    Melissa

  • Tessiess, SoCal Inland, 9b, 1272' elev
    10 years ago

    Same plant on December 15, 2013 being showered with falling ash leaves.

    Melissa

  • wantonamara Z8 CenTex
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Thanks for the photos.

    I just had a very late severe 18F freeze. we dropped over 50 degrees in a day and I had forgotten to cover it. It seems to have not gotten freeze damage so far. We are just now at 39 degrees. Or it is still in shock and it hasn't decided to die yet,. I guess I will find out about it's cold hardiness today. LOL

  • robinmi_gw
    10 years ago

    Why did you not collect seeds??

  • wantonamara Z8 CenTex
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    It is a small plant and no flowers yet.

  • wantonamara Z8 CenTex
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    It seems to have survived the bounce to 18F un protected, tiny and unmulched. I am happy.

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