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Plant of the month: Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’

Posted:14 July 2013

This species has long been a favourite of ours. It has a long flowering period, from June to October, so gives great value in the garden, and it’s racemes are brilliantly coloured, from violet to purple, or white to pink. They have purple bracts, up to 1cm (0.5in) long.

Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ grows from Europe to central Asia, is an erect, compact perennial with many branches and simple, oval to oblong, notched, wrinkled, mid-green leaves up to 10cm (4in) long.

We also love it for it’s near black stems, and it is really useful as a ‘see through’ plant in the borders. The name nemorosa means growing in groves or woods that said it prefers a sunny position in the border. Bees and butterflies love it, and with grey-green foliage which is wonderfully aromatic, this is definitely a must have plant!

 

To prolong flowering remove the flower spikes as soon they start to fade, it will flower again in October if it is cut back hard in August.

Apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure around the base of the plant in spring.

Basal or softwood cuttings can be taken in spring or early summer, or semi-ripe cuttings in late summer or autumn.

Photos: gardinplante.wordpress.com (top image), gardenista.com

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