Hi!
I had had mine in a dappled shadey spot and it languished. But I would also forget to give it extra water. After moving it to a sunny area that I did water, the plant perked up and even grew some leaves. But, it being winter now, it's been in a kind of dormancy - meaning it's done nothing. Which is a lot better than it losing its leaves LOL It also hasn't been affected by the frost while the curtiflora and karwinskii x 'Winter Red' next to the sprucei have been devasted. But I don't think you, being in Queensland, worries too much about frost, right? But it does require watering. It's not sitting in anything special as far as soil goes, mostly clay amended with sandy loam and compost.
I got it last October and it's yet to flower but that may have been due to the lack of water those first few months.
Hope that helps.
Cait

Thx Cait,

It helps. You are right I definately dont have to worry about frost, it just doesnt happen in Townsville.

Just wanted to know if this salvia produces seeds for you? Helena

I have just brought this salvia. So it hasnt flowered yet and I really dont know if it has viable seeds but in the gardeners guide to growing salvias by John Sutton the only reference I could find states that the plant was grown from seed here so when it flowers I will check out the seed situation & let you know.

Thanks Annette, I was just curious. Hope maybe it'll be available here in the US. I already made a wish list in the past to Seedhunt.

Does it do any good making a wish list? or is it just wishful thinking? Everytime I go to the nurseries here there are only salvia splendens and salvia farinaceas and I wish they would have something different so alas I have to resort to mailordering which is great when it it arrives a whole box ful of salvias I just think it would be simpler to go to a nursery.