How do they know if it is super rare if they don't know it's super rare name?

LOL. There are quite a few that are still called "sp. from XYZ", waiting to be named, if you look at Robin's site. So I was just wondering if anyone recognized this one. This seller sells very nice plants, including many rare salvias (probably from Cabrillo College!), so my feeling is that they are reputable.

This looks like something being sold in Wales by Crug Farm Plants, again not named. Could possibly be a hybrid with Salvia karwinskii being involved. So many un-named Salvias and hybrids around currently, many of mine just have SALVIA ? on the labels!

Salvia curtiflora might be it, or a related species. Does the buyer offer the plant's provenance? This would make the plant much more valuable to collectors.

I think Rich is correct....Salvia curtiflora. (Not to be confused with the beautiful Salvia curviflora.)

Looks like S. curtiflora to me! I had one in the Mission that got huge - 10 feet+ - and bloomed only once... I think it needed a little more warmth - or at least less wind!

OK, so it sounds like I should plant it in a sunny spot, away from wind, then! 10 feet+... oh boy, my resident hummingbirds are already fighting enough as it is! LOL

Depending on the foliage, I'd perhaps give it some shade. If the foliage is smooth, this is an indication of shade-loving. If the foliage is hairy, this indicates tolerance of sun. The hairs reflect excess sunlight.

'Scuse...Yes! it's a shade-lover! I meant warmth, not sun! Think of some still, mild-all-night place in Mexico...in a shady thicket.

It'll want some water, too.

Yes, the leaves are somewhat hairy. I have it in part shade now, just to acclimate it to my garden after shipping stress. I have a spot it might like... on a slope next to 3 redwood trees, so it wouldn't get all the redwood mess (due to slope), yet that area is partly shaded, and fairly heavily watered. No more drought for us, right? :-)

Jonopp, was curtiflora a winter bloomer for you in S.F.?

OK, I have another salvia ID question. This one is from Costa Rica, on the cover of a book of plants. Anyone know which salvia it is? see link

Here is a link that might be useful: Salvia sp. Costa Rica

Voodoobrew:
Looks like a species fushia from what I can see.
Art

Yes, now that I take a closer look at the calyx, it doesn't look like a salvia. But the flower sure did! The leaves look a bit like a salvia I saw (not in bloom) recently at UCBerkeley which was labeled only "Salvia sp. Costa Rica". Still wondering what that was.

Interesting species fuchsia, if that is what it is. btw, we have been looking at options for a Costa Rica trip, hopefully for this spring.

Sounds like a great trip. I guess it is safe for Americans??
Keep us posted!
Art

The flower looks like it could be from an Acantaceae, or possibly a Rubiaceae species. Both are found in Mexico and Central America. A closer look at the calyx would tell much. A lot of species from these families have Salvia like flowers.

Thanks for your replies. Art, Costa Rica is probably the safest country to visit south of our border. The main purpose would be to see wildlife, but also plants, of course! :) The Monteverde cloud forest is well-known for both.

Here is a link that might be useful: Monteverde