Salvia “Reference” is new cultivar and impressive creation from those clever plant breeders… a stunning bi-colour farinacea type, with blue petals and a white calyx. This super creation is one of those plants which, when grown to adorn and look spectacular on your border, you will just have to surround with barbed wire to keep the scissors-armed flower arranger at bay!
With its silvery spires generously bedecked with beautiful blue flowers borne on durable, showy border plants, this is a beautiful dual purpose variety gardeners will wish to guard jealously.

This tender perennial is hardy to -4*C (25*F) so may survive the winter in sheltered locations. It makes a bushy plant and produces its deep blue flowers from May through to first frosts.

Flowering the first year from an early sowing, it is a great choice for summer bedding and borders: it brings butterflies into the garden by the dozen, and makes a wonderful cut or dried flower.
S. farinacea is a hardier plant than its cousin, S. splendens, and may last for several years in mild winters. They are less prone to damage by snails and slugs, and fairly self-sufficient except in extreme weather conditions.

The spikes rest on a compact plant of typically narrow salvia-like leaves, however, the shiny leaves are what set this species apart from a more most other Salvia, which bear velvety-dull leaves.

Sowing: Sow indoors in Spring
Germination can be slow and erratic, especially if a fairly warm temperature is not maintained – around 18 to 24°C (64 to 75°F) seems to be ideal. If at least 15°C (59°F) is not possible do not sow before March.
Start indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last frosts are due. Do not cover the seed. Watch out for damping off. A fungicidal drench to prevent damping off might be helpful. Prick out the seedlings as appropriate. For best results the next move should be to a larger pot, increasing the size of these according to growth.
From the larger pots, move the plants to outdoor positions at the end of May or early June. Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for 10 to 15 days before planting out into their final positions. Space 15 to 30cm (6 to 12in) apart.
Pinch out growing tip when plants are 15cm (6in) tall to encourage bushy growth. Water, fertilise and dead-head regularly.

Cultivation:
Salvia require pretty much full sun to bloom and do well. - We have found if they are planted in the shade with will have fewer blooms and be more 'leggy'. Although drought-tolerant once established, a moderate amount of water must be supplied to young plants. Water freely especially in periods of drought.
A typical recommendation is that Salvia benefits from monthly liquid fertilising to keep it blooming non-stop, though they will often bloomed impressively without such attention.
Remove the bloom spikes of salvias after blooms have faded to encourage continuous bloom. Some gardeners prefer to let salvia flowers go to seed. Wait until new growth begins to emerge in early spring to do your winter cleanup of old stems to avoid freeze damage. The best time to divide perennial salvias is in early spring, before new growth begins.

Plant Uses:
Coastal, Flowers Borders and Beds, Mediterranean or Wildlife Gardens, Patio/Container Plants. Cut or Dried Flowers.

If you have a particular interest in Salvia, We can recommend a very interesting book:
“The New Book of Salvias: Sages for Every Garden By Betsy Clebsch”
ISBN-13: 9780881925609