Salvia farinacea 'Victoria Blue'

The deep violet blue colour of the flowers of Salvia farinacea 'Victoria Blue' are no doubt this plants' outstanding feature. Deep, true blue is a highly sought after colour in flowers. Flowering in less than four months from seed, this is a splendid variety, a bushy base-branching plant producing numerous, long-lasting spikes of vivid deep blue flowers. This tender perennial is hardy to -4°C (25°F) so may survive the winter sheltered locations. It makes a bushy plant and produces its deep blue flowers from May through to first frosts. 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. Compact, branching and early flowering, Victoria Blue salvia plants are often treated as bedding plants and massed together to form a 'sea of blue.' In round container gardens, install Salvia Victoria plant in the middle, and let shorter plants in complementary colours trail over the edge. Victoria Blue salvia flowers can be used in cut-flower arrangements, they also dry wonderfully for a longer-lasting display. Salvia farinacea is a hardier plant than its cousin, S. splendens, and may last for several years in mild winters. It is less prone to damage by snails and slugs, and is fairly self-sufficient except in extreme weather conditions.

• Awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit
  Salvia farinacea 'Victoria Blue' has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
• Awarded the Fleuroselect Gold Medal
  Fleuroselect, the international organisation for the ornamental plants industry awarded Salvia farinacea 'Victoria Blue' one of the most prestigious horticultural awards, a Fleuroselect Gold Medal in 1978. Symbolising a genuine improvement in the breeding of over existing Salvia farinacea types, the plants are compact, branching and early flowering. To this day it is still a successful variety.

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.

Origin: Salvia farinacea is native to Mexico and parts of the United States including Texas. Violet-blue 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. It belongs to the Lamiaceae (mint) family.

Nomenclature: The genus name Salvia from the Latin word salveo meaning 'I am healed' or 'I am well', referring to the medicinal qualities of some of the species. Both the species name farinacea and the common name mealycup is in reference to a white powdery substance that is found on the calyx and upper stems of this plant. Common names include Mealycup sage or Blue sage.