Salvia squalens
robinmi_gw
18 years ago
Northern VA's Creative Team of Landscape Designers & Horticulturists
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Has anyone grown this interesting Salvia from Peru and Ecuador? This is extremely rare in the UK. It is a strange Salvia, seems to want to flower all year round, and will not tolerate any frost. The large ovate leaves are very attractive.
The flowers are a lovely orange colour, and it does set viable seed, though in small quantities.
It is a seriously attractive species, and quite aromatic. The main problem with this Salvia is the extreme stickiness of the foliage...if you thought that S. darcyi was sticky...try this one! Just don't grow it where it can come into contact with other plants...it will rip them apart!
I have grown it as a specimen in a container, and it thrived all last summer, and flowered all winter in the greenhouse.
I am told that this a very variable Salvia with several forms...differing leaf size, and colour variation on the flowers.
The name 'squalens' means 'dirty', but it is not a dirty plant. I think that this refers to the dreadful stickiness of the foliage. Any poor insect, or debris, that alights on the leaves will be there forever.
If anyone is interested , I will be happy to try to attach a photo of my plant.
Best regards,
Robin in the UK...where it is still cold and windy!
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robinmi_gwOriginal Author
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Gerris2 (Joseph Delaware Zone 7a)
robinmi_gwOriginal Author