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Mystic Spires Blue Salvia
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Posted by marilyn_fl zone 9b Florida (My Page) on Sun, Apr 19, 09 at 14:08
| Is the mystic spires blue salvia and the indigo salvia the same plant? Just with different names. I am looking for a blue salvia to attract hummers. |
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RE: Mystic Spires Blue Salvia
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marilyn fl:
The answer to your question is yes and no. First part
(no) is Indigo Spires was a chance seedling that came
up at Huntington Botanical Gardens. It grows to about
4' Tall w/18" long bloom spikes. Mystic Spires is 2'
Tall w/8-10 bloomspikes. Now for the Yes they are both
from the same plants used to hybridize them (Salvia farinacea x Salvia longispicata). While Indigo Spires was a
chance seedling Mystic Spires(Balsalmisp) was created,the irradiated mutant is from Indigo Spires.
Art |
RE: Mystic Spires Blue Salvia
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| If you want blue flowered sages to attract hummers in Florida, I'd go with the various forms of S. guaranitica. These include the old S. ambigens form from Brazil, Blue Ensigh, Argentina Skies (light blue), Black & Blue (dark calyxes and a deeper blue), the giant Costa Rican form (which might be a hybrid), and the newer Van Remsen form, which is a superb performer in Houston and San Diego. All of these are more of a Delft or cobalt blue. For true blue, try S. cacaliaefolia or one of the S. macrophylla forms. S. patens likes more Mediterranean conditions. S. sagittata is superb, but is finicky in hot humid weather. There are some promising new hybrids between S. sagittata and S. macrophylla that are being trialled this year. |
RE: Mystic Spires Blue Salvia
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| I live in the Dothan Alabama area and grew Mystic Spires for the first time last year. I love the plant, and so do the bees....the hummers never went near it that I could see. I understand that would be because of the bee activity around it. |
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