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S. greggii 'Navajo Bright Red' Flowers Turning White
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Posted by ralphw z7b-8 NC (My Page) on Tue, Dec 20, 11 at 21:22
I have noticed that at the arboretum here in Raleigh that the newer flowers on Salvia greggii 'Navajo Bright Red' are a creamy white in the center with only the bottom and edges showing pink or red. Up until now all of the flowers have been a deep, solid, velvet red. Many of the flowers still are a solid red, but they look older. We are having an exceptionally mild fall so far with only a few nights below freezing in the upper 20's.
Is anyone else growing this Salvia and if so, have you observed this change?
By the way, this variety is a honeybee favorite. During the summer it would be loaded with bees when other Salvias in the area had few or none. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: S. greggii 'Navajo Bright Red' Flowers Turning White
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| Yes, this is something that happens to lots of varieties when the weather turns cold in the fall. |
RE: S. greggii 'Navajo Bright Red' Flowers Turning White
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| The older flowers, especially those that persist longer than usual, either sun bleach or perhaps moisture from rain, morning dew, or watering leaches out pigment found on the tiny hairs covering the flower. `Cherry Chief' does this occasionally, and S. microphylla forms `Orange Door' and especially `Zaragoza' do it more or less routinely. |
RE: S. greggii 'Navajo Bright Red' Flowers Turning White
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| Rich, I believe that these partially white flowers are the more recently opened ones. To determine which, I will remove all of the currently open flowers from one branch and see how the next flowers to open appear. I believe that the Navajo series is your introduction? |
RE: S. greggii 'Navajo Bright Red' Flowers Turning White
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| Yep. Navajo Bright Red = Cherry Chief. If this behavior remains constant, and the white pattern varies in the same manner as Hot Lips, I'd like to know. Also, an image of the flowers might be nice if it is possible. |
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