Flowerbeds of salvia and ageratum. Salvia flowers

Salvia (lat. Salvia) or sage is a representative of the Lamiaceae (Lamiaceae) family. To avoid confusion, spice and medicinal plant called sage, and ornamental crops of this genus - salvia. In terms of external characteristics, salvia is the same as sage. IN natural environment Salvia is found in temperate and tropical climate zones in all parts of the world, except for the remote water massifs of Australia. Salvia is derived from the Latin word “salvus”, meaning “to be healthy”, and indeed some types of the plant have medicinal properties.

Rinsing with sage infusion will quickly cure gumboil. Salvia officinalis has been familiar to everyone since the times of the Roman Empire, while salvia came to Europe in the 18th century. Salvia divinorum - narcotic sage or predictor sage - is classified separately from other species. This article will only talk about salvia grown for decorative purposes.

Salvia is a rhizomatous plant with erect, tetrahedral stems reaching a height of up to 1.2 m. The plant is perennial, but in our latitudes it is grown as an annual or biennial, since it freezes during winters with little or no snow. The leaves are oblong, entire, less often pinnately dissected, attached to long petioles, arranged oppositely.

The surface of the leaf plate is dark green, and the underside is whitish. At the top of the stem, a complex spike-shaped or paniculate inflorescence 15-20 cm long appears. The flowers are small, the bracts are colored white, pink, lilac or violet. At the end of flowering, a fruit consisting of 4 nuts is set. The seeds ripen in a month and retain long-term germination (about 5 years after collection).

When and how to plant salvia seedlings

Annual and biennial salvia are propagated by seeds; perennials can also be propagated vegetatively - by cuttings and dividing the bush.

Sowing seeds in open ground do in early spring and before winter, but the seeds may not sprout, or young plants die from the cold.

It's safer to grow. Moreover, the sparkling Salvia species, also known as shiny (Salvia splendens), is grown only by seedlings.

• Sowing of seedlings is carried out from mid-February to early March.
• Take a wide container, place a drainage layer of expanded clay on the bottom, and fill the rest of the space with substrate for growing seedlings.
• Moisten the soil, plant the seeds to a depth of no more than 2-3 mm.
• Cover with transparent film and maintain the air temperature at 25º C.
• Place in a bright place without direct sunlight, water through a tray, and ventilate the crops.
• In a couple of weeks to a month, shoots will appear. Remove the cover.
• For seedlings, it is important to organize a 12-hour daylight hours - use artificial lighting.
• When 2 true leaves appear, pick up the plants and transplant them into a new box, keeping a distance of about 5 cm between them. It is necessary to deepen to the cotyledon leaves.
• 3 weeks after picking, they should be transplanted into separate pots with a diameter of 10-12 cm.
• Pinch seedlings above 3-4 leaves to stimulate branching of the bush.
• Starting in April, harden the plants - lower the night temperature to +10º C.

Propagation of salvia by cuttings

Parts of the shoot 5-10 cm long are used. Make a cut slightly below the node, using a scalpel or a sharp knife. Rooting occurs in 2 stages: first in water, then in soil. Take a transparent container (this makes it easier to see the water level and the presence of roots), pour a layer of water about 5 cm and place the cutting there, adding water as it evaporates. Expect roots to form in 2-3 weeks.

When the root length reaches 1-2 cm, it is necessary to plant it in a small pot with light soil. Maintain the air temperature at 20° C. Water regularly and spray periodically. A sufficiently strong plant begins to be accustomed to street conditions– place it near an open window, take it outside for a while, but place it in a shaded place. 3-4 weeks after growth in the ground, add mineral fertilizers. Then you can plant it in a permanent place in the garden.

Planting salvia in open ground

Salvia seedlings ready for planting in the ground photo

When the threat of night frosts has completely passed (late May-early June), plant salvia in the garden. Light, permeable sandy soil rich in lime and humus is suitable. The plant is light-loving (with the exception of salvia adhesive, which can grow in partial shade), choose a sunny area. Dig planting holes at a distance of 25-30 cm, add a handful of humus and transfer the salvia along with the earthen lump. Tamp down a little and water.

Caring for salvia in open ground

Caring for salvia is not complicated and consists of standard actions: watering, weeding, loosening the soil, applying fertilizer.

Watering

The plant does not tolerate stagnation of moisture at the roots. It is necessary to do this when the soil has dried thoroughly after the previous one. It is better to water in the evening, add a little water.

Loosen the soil and remove weeds as necessary.

Feeding

You will need to apply a complex of mineral fertilizers twice: immediately after planting and once buds begin to form.

Since the stems are flexible, plants taller than 1 m will need support.

When does salvia bloom?

Flowering of all species begins in June, and may end with the onset of autumn frosts. Some species are capable of blooming twice. For example, salvia forest: after the first flowering, it must be completely cut off, fed with fertilizers, watered moderately, then the plant will produce new shoots and bloom again.

Trimming

Perennial salvia needs water, which prevents exposure and stretching of shoots and stimulates tillering. Before the start of winter, perennial salvias need to cut off the old woody shoots almost completely, leaving a few centimeters with growth buds and young greenery. Mulch the soil with compost, cover young salvias with dry leaves and spruce branches.

Pests and diseases of salvia

Very rarely, salvia can suffer from fungal infections. Treatment with a fungicide will help.

The delicate, aromatic leaves attract thrips, whiteflies, aphids, mites, slugs and snails.

Snails and slugs can be removed mechanically: collected by hand, lured into traps.

To get rid of any pests, treat with an appropriate insecticide.

Types and varieties of salvia

Taking into account agrotechnical characteristics and biological features Salvia species are divided into 3 groups.

Group 1: thermophilic species(they cannot tolerate even the slightest frost, so they are grown here as an annual), native to the subtropics of America. Let's look at the representatives of this group.

Salvia splendens

Salvia brilliant photo flowers variety Salvia splendens ‘Faye Chapel’

Compact, densely leafy bush 20-80 cm high. Leaves are ovoid, entire, petiolate, arranged oppositely. The color of the leaf blade is dark green on top and lighter below. The flowers are large, irregularly shaped, have a double perianth, collected in 2-6 pieces in a racemose inflorescence 14-25 cm long. The color of the corolla and calyx is bright red.

Varieties of Salvia sparkling:

White - the inflorescence is not very dense; against the background of the white color of the corolla, the calyx appears creamy.

Pink - has a shorter inflorescence. The color of the corolla and calyx is pink, the corolla has a velvety texture.

Violet – the bright violet color of the flowers enhances the dense pubescence.

The most popular sparkling salvias are: Salvator, Red Arrows, Sahara, Fire Star.

Salvia bright red Salvia coccinea

Salvia bright red Salvia coccinea variety Lady in red Lady in Red photo

Reaches a height of 50-70 cm. Straight stems branch well and have dense pubescence. The leaves are ovoid in shape with finely serrated edges, attached on petioles, the surface of the leaf is smooth, the underside is pubescent. The flowers have a fiery red color and are collected in loose whorled inflorescences 15-30 cm long.

Varieties:

• Lady in Red - reaches a height of 40 cm, flowers are the same.
• Sherry blossom – pink flower color, early flowering.

Salvia farinacea

A pyramidal bush 60-90 cm high. Unpretentious, long-flowering. The leaves are oblong-ovate, entire-edged, attached to petioles, with pubescence running along the veins. The color of the corolla is dark blue, less often white. A tall peduncle 15-20 cm long consists of 5-30 flowers about 2 cm long.

Varieties:

• Anschuld - the color of the flowers is white and silver.
• Strata - has blue flowers.
• Victoria - blooms luxuriantly with dark blue flowers.

Group 2: more cold-tolerant and drought-resistant species Mediterranean origin.

Green salvia or variegated Salvia viridis var. Horminum

Only the Horminum variety (var. Horminum) is decorative - it is an annual plant 40-60 cm high. It has numerous well-branched stems, they are spicy, covered with glandular pubescence. The leaves are oblong-elliptical in shape, attached to petioles, and also pubescent. Simple inflorescences consist of false whorls with 4-6 pink flowers, the bracts are more noticeable - bright pink or rich purple.

Varieties:

• White Swan - white flowers with pink or purple bracts.
• Oxford Blue - the color of the bracts is blue-violet.
• Pink Sandy - pink bracts.

Salvia verticillata

Salvia whorled variety Salvia verticillata ‘Purple Rain’ photo

With straight stems, reaches a height of 35-40 cm. Leaves are long-petiolate. Stems and leaves are densely pubescent. Dense whorled inflorescences consist of 5-30 lilac-blue flowers. The Purple Rain variety has purple calyxes and dark purple corollas.

Salvia dandelion Salvia taraxacifolia photo

A herbaceous plant with straight, poorly branched stems. All parts of this type of salvia exude a pleasant spicy aroma. Pinnately dissected leaves, irregularly dissected along the edges, are collected in basal rosettes. The surface of the leaf is bare, there is pubescence below. The inflorescence is 28 cm long and consists of whorls with several flowers. The color of the corolla is pale pink, the throat is greenish with purple specks.

Salvia Jurisicii Salvia jurisicii is a species belonging to group 2, but is not of interest to gardeners.

Group 3: cold-resistant species that require shelter only in snowless winters. They are undemanding in care, can grow in the shade, flowering begins in the second year of life.

Salvia oak forest or forest Salvia nemorosa, Salvia sylvestris

The stems are branched, pubescent, reaching a height of about 60 cm. Upper leaves sessile, smaller in size than the lower petioles. The whorled inflorescence has several pairs of lateral branches. Each whorl consists of 2-6 small flowers with a blue-violet corolla and a purple bract.

Varieties:

Mainakht – violet-blue flowering color;

Plumosa - dark lavender flowers;

Amethyst is a pink-violet flower color.

Salvia glutinosa or ferruginous sage Salvia glutinosa

Most often grown in our latitudes. The plant is up to 90 cm high, has numerous straight stems with glandular pubescence. The leaves are large, ovate-triangular in shape with serrated edges, colored yellow-green, attached on long petioles. The inflorescences are loose, whorled, and consist of light yellow flowers.

Salvia lush Salvia x superba

Salvia lush Salvia x superba variety ‘Merleau Blue’ photo

Reaches a height of 60 cm, the inflorescences are spike-shaped, the color of the flowers is blue-violet.

Varieties:

• Snow Hill - snow-white flowers;
• Blue Queen - dwarf variety with lavender-blue flowers;
• Rose Queen is a low plant with pink flowers.

The species meadow salvia (Salvia pratensis) and Ethiopian salvia (Salvia aethiopis) also belong to the third group.

Salvia is a beautiful tropical plant that... wildlife found in the tropics and temperate latitudes. Beautiful and bright, it is loved by Russian gardeners. Another pleasing feature of salvia is that it is unpretentious and in no way special care does not need.

In order for the plant to develop correctly and not encounter problems, you need to take into account some features. And so, when to plant and how to care for salvia, as well as about flower seedlings, I will now tell you.

What is a salvia flower?

Salvia is a perennial heat-loving shrub. However, in our conditions it can be planted as an annual or biennial plant. The photo of the flowers reflects all its beauty: growing just over a meter, salvia has a white, pink, lilac or violet color. The leaves of the plant are located opposite each other on the stem. The fruit appears in the form of several nuts. A month after flowering begins, the seeds ripen and can be used for five years. The plant can bloom once or twice during the summer.

Interestingly, sage also belongs to this genus. All species that are medicinal or spicy are classified as sage. A decorative types called salvia.

When to plant a flower

When is the best time to land? To plant seeds, you should prepare boxes with soil. Towards the end of February they descend into the ground.

You should not water them, as they do not like stagnant water. You need to carry out water procedures using a tray or spray the ground with a spray bottle. To retain moisture, the box is covered with paper. The seed planting depth is 1-2 mm. Salvia is heat-loving, so when growing seeds it is necessary to maintain a temperature of about +25 C°. After 2 - 4 weeks, the first sprouts will appear.

Transfer

To increase the viability of the plant seedlings, they are replanted twice. When 2 - 3 leaves appear on the seedlings, they are planted at a distance of about five centimeters. Planting depth - to the first leaf. During the first transplant, it is advisable to add mineral fertilizers to the soil.

After another three weeks, the plants are transplanted into separate pots. In April it is worth starting hardening off the seedlings. To do this, at night the temperature can be lowered to 10 degrees.

Planting salvia in open ground

In June, the temperature begins to stabilize, you can start planting salvia on the site. It is better to choose a place with plenty of light. For the comfort of the plant, the soil must contain sand and lime. Flowers should be planted at a distance of 30 cm from each other, while adding fertilizer to each seedling.

How to care for salvia

Due to the fact that the seedlings are strengthened and hardened, First stage growth will not be a problem. As already mentioned, salvia is unpretentious. Watering should be done in the evening if the soil is dry. It is necessary to periodically loosen the top layers of soil and remove weeds. During the period when the plant is gaining buds, it is necessary to apply mineral fertilizers. Salvia will be grateful to you.

Salvia is not susceptible to any diseases. The only thing that can darken its existence is insects. If any appear, you will have to treat the shoots with means of destruction.

See also:

Perennial

If the climate in your latitude is moderate and the soil does not freeze very much, you can delight yourself with perennial salvia. In order for the plant to safely overwinter, you need to cut off the shoot, leaving only the cuttings with buds. For the winter you need to cover the shoot with compost.

After flowering stops, remove the remaining flowers from the shoot.

Kinds

There are about 900 representatives of salvia, which are divided into three groups. The division occurs according to resistance to cold, heat-loving and moisture-loving. I have also prepared a photo of salvia for you. its different types.

First group

It is characterized by moisture-loving and heat-loving plants that do not tolerate frost. In harsh climatic conditions Russians are grown only as annual plants and do not tolerate winter.

Second group

Plants in this group can grow and bloom in more severe conditions. They tolerate cold more easily. They do not die from a temporary lack of watering. Plants of the second group love mineral fertilizers.

Third group

Plants of the third group can withstand sufficient cold. They bloom profusely from the second year, so it is important to cover them for wintering. Salvias of the third group can do without a lot of sun. Cool weather is also not harmful to them. They are the most unpretentious, but no less beautiful.

Conclusion

Due to its unpretentiousness and standard care, salvia has taken its rightful place among gardeners' favorites. Despite the variety of species, there are no special care requirements for individual specimens. You just have to clarify which group the flower belongs to in order to comply with the preferred conditions. Various colors, long flowering, coupled with the beautiful forms of the plant delight the eye and allow you to enjoy your holiday in a calm environment.

Growing salvia at home: soil, sowing, watering, care (video)

I share with you some little tricks of gardeners and gardeners))

At proper cultivation and caring for salvia, this plant will delight you all summer on the site, and in the winter - in the room. The fact is that up to 90 flowers ripen on one peduncle, gradually blooming, and their flowering continues throughout the summer season. And even when they fall, bright flower stalks remain on the stem. And with the onset of cold weather, salvia can be transplanted into, and it will continue to bloom brightly on your windowsill.

What do salvia flowers look like?

Here you can read the description of salvia flowers and learn about its cultivation:

Bushes reverse pyramidal in shape, densely leafy, compact. Each shoot ends in a large inflorescence.

Leaves with a strongly elongated apex, petiolate, opposite.

Root system well developed. Taproot gives a lot of laterals, from which it departs a large number of very thin roots.

Inflorescence - brush.

Traditional coloring - red. The peduncle is densely pubescent with small red hairs, its length is up to 20 cm. The inflorescence develops from 30 to 90 flowers.

See what salvia looks like in the photo below:

Gardeners are flower plant valued for the bright red color of the flowers and long flowering, used for flower beds, borders, window sills, garden and potted plants.

The best place to plant salvia in the ground

When planting salvia in the ground, it is necessary to take into account that it is a heat-loving, light-loving and moisture-loving plant. Very sensitive to the smallest sub-zero temperatures and dies in light frosts. The best place to plant salvia is in open, sunny places. Very sensitive to lack of moisture.

The plant prefers loose, nutritious soils, but not wet ones. Plants heavily fertilized with humus develop a rich vegetative mass with a small number of flowers. Flowering occurs 100-120 days after sowing and continues until the first frost. Flowers bloom gradually on the inflorescence from bottom to top.

In the conditions of the southern region, seeds ripen on shoots of the first, second and partially third order. In 1 year there are up to 180 of them. Germination remains from 2 to 5 years.

When growing salvia from seeds, remember that it is a cross-pollinating plant.

It is pollinated by bees, bumblebees, flies, ants and other insects. A lot of seeds are set. They ripen a month after the start of flowering. Since they are placed at the bottom of an open cup, the ripened seeds easily fall out of it onto the ground, so they are collected in several stages as they are ready.

How to grow salvia flowers from seeds

How to grow salvia from seeds in your garden? This flower is grown through. Seed germination is unfriendly, so it is better to sow them in boxes and keep them under glass for the first time. Seedlings are planted in flower beds after the end of frost (for us - no earlier than May 10-15). She tolerates the transplant well. To obtain early flowering, sowing is done in February.

Optimal temperature for seed germination +20…+25 °C. When the necessary conditions for planting and caring for salvia are created, seedlings appear in 7-10 days. It is recommended to sow seeds for seedlings in early February, followed by picking. By the time the plants are planted in the ground (May), they already have buds, because the hybrid begins flowering 12-13 weeks after sowing. The distance between plants in the flower garden is 20-35 cm.

An individual flower blooms for 2-3 days, but the inflorescences do not lose their decorative effect for a long time thanks to the bright calyxes.

In the fall, before the onset of frost, salvia can be transplanted into pots with a clod of soil - and it will delight you with its abundant flowering in the room for a long time.

Types and varieties of salvia with photos

Low-growing salvia has several varieties, characterized by an accelerated development cycle (they bloom 60-65 days after sowing):

"Fire ball" - compact bush, 35-40 cm wide, 40-50 cm high. The inflorescences are loose, bright red, their length is 17-20 cm.

"Vesuvius" - the shape and height of the bush are the same, but the leaves are large, length 7-10 cm, width 6-9 cm. The inflorescences are smaller and denser, bloom in the first half of August.

"Zurich" - differs from “Fireball” in the number of inflorescences on the main stem (up to 100), more powerful growth and late flowering.

Now there are varieties of salvia with purple flowers:

"Rio" - annual plant 25-30 cm high. Purple flowers and stem.

"Splendes pink." One of the most popular plants. Light- and moisture-loving. Blooms from June until frost. Annual plant 25-30 cm high. Purple flowers and stem.

"Parade". Hybrid seeds of sparkling or shiny salvia have appeared on sale - the “Parade” variety, which is a mixture of plants with different flower colors. This hybrid is very different early flowering and plant uniformity.

As you can see in the photo, this salvia variety is a compact bush 35 cm high and 38 cm wide:

Wide range of vibrant colors such as scarlet, hot pink, light pink, purple and white. The seeds of this hybrid are very different high quality. They are smaller than ordinary salvia, there are 270 pieces in 1g.

Another type of salvia - Horminum , which is also grown from seeds through seedlings, has a completely original color, unlike the traditional red plant.

Pay attention to the photo - salvia flowers of this species have bright multi-colored bracts (pink, blue, lilac, white).

Plants of this type of salvia are low-growing (35-50 cm), good for decorating flower beds, and. They are also heat-loving, light-loving and moisture-loving, but, unlike other salvias, they are cold-resistant. Flowering is long-lasting, beginning 70-100 days after emergence.

So that your balcony or garden is buried in pink clouds from June until frost, be sure to find a place for Salvia Lavender. Its flowers resemble fluffy tails, and therefore it can become a highlight.

Thanks to everyone who decided to take part in compiling the catalogue. At the moment there are 12 of us. And I have about 200 of my posts to edit. But if you consider that I wrote about each plant several times, then much less.
Today I’ll give you an example of how I edit publications. And one of these days I’ll show you what the catalog layout will look like.

Four years ago I wrote about such a plant as salvia.
This video has it all: a presentation of the finished result and the stages of cultivation. I made the video for YouTube, but it would also be suitable for a catalog entry.

That year I was writing for friends, and not for a catalog, and therefore the old entry talks about several plants.
Original taken from webgarden in Posivnaya. Flower seedlings
For the catalog, I will divide the post into separate topics. I'll add a video and change the text.

SALVIA

Decorative variety of sage. Annual.

I grew seedlings for a flower garden near apartment building. But I unexpectedly found out that salvia can be used to decorate balconies and apartments.

Why unexpected? The fact is that many sources write that the development period of salvia is long, the seeds must be sown early - in February, and that seedlings need to be formed by pruning. Everything turned out to be untrue.
But I didn’t know this - I believed it.

I sowed it in mid-February. And since in our region heat-loving annuals are planted no earlier than the end of May, and the seedlings bloomed on April 1, even the seeds had time to ripen before planting in the ground.

That’s why I decided to make my catalog with the help of gardeners who grew flowers themselves, because many flower growing sites reprint the same information without their own experience. And if the information is wrong, it is misleading.

But, as they say, every cloud has a silver lining.
During this time, 40 salvia bushes decorated my apartment and balcony :-)

Salvia can be used in phytodesign, decorating rooms

Eastern motif

A corner of green plants (pine, ficus, dracaena) is decorated with a red accent - blooming salvia.

Salvia can bloom even far from the window.

But 40 bushes is too much :-) She was everywhere.

Growing seedlings

It took my seedlings exactly 48 days from sowing to the start of flowering. And this is in conditions of lack of light. At later sowing dates it will bloom even earlier.

The seeds are quite large, so they can be spread at the required distance.

Salvia seedlings

You can sow directly into separate glasses - germination is good. I planted 4 seeds in 200 g wide bowls, and one seed in a 100 g cup.

You can do it like this, and then dive. Choose for yourself which is more convenient: seedlings tolerate transplantation well.

I had to replant the seedlings several times that season. First, from 100 g to 200 g glasses. And then in 500. There was no need to fertilize, since the fresh soil was quite nutritious.

I add vermicompost to the purchased soil “for seedlings”.

Peduncles appeared after 4 pairs of true leaves.

At the beginning of April, I took the seedlings out to the balcony only during the day: it was still cold at night. But she steeled herself.

Each peduncle blooms for a long time, stretching higher and higher.

In the beginning of April

At the beginning of May, the flower stalks fully bloomed.

And in mid-May the lateral flower stalks were already blooming. There is no need to form a bush by pruning - the plant branches beautifully on its own.

Collecting seeds

When the very first flowers bloomed, I cut them off, leaving only the side flower stalks. And she planted the seedlings in the flower garden.

And I got fresh seeds. They are stored in these red bells.

Salvia seeds are large and easy to sow. They sprout quickly. The seedlings do not stretch even without additional lighting.

Salvia in the flower beds

Silver cineraria bushes look good next to red salvia. I noticed this many years ago when I was taking pictures in N-Tagil. At that time I didn’t even know the names of these flowers. But I appreciated the decorative nature of the combination.

Silver cineraria and red salvia

I also liked the salvia framed with white alyssum.

I would like to note that it is better to plant salvia not in the sun, but in partial shade. In direct sun it withers quickly. Grows well in partial shade. It will bloom all summer and September. If you cut off fading flower stalks, flowering will be especially abundant. By the way, I never fertilized it once during the summer. But I have good fertile soil in my flower beds.
In general, I think that these are unpretentious flowers for city flower beds. And they are suitable for decorating balconies and window sills.

Sowing seeds in autumn

And this photo was taken the following year. I tried to sow salvia in the fall so that it would bloom in the house in winter - for the New Year.

But salvia did not want to bloom at the wrong time. All winter the seedlings felt great, not a single leaf turned yellow. And at the beginning of March I was already with flowers.

We can talk endlessly about the bright and unusual salvia. Clusters of inflorescences burning with fire, sparkling in the sun like drops of blood - these flowers captivate the gaze of a passerby with their enchanting lush color, enveloping and intoxicating aroma. You inevitably want to plunge into this tart floral aroma, feel the fringe of the flower carpet, count the countless number of button flowers.

Salvia is not just a flower, but a whole floral world, which includes an endless variety of rainbow shades, shapes and aromas.

Features of the view

Salvia has a rather unusual and rich history. Central America is considered the birthplace of this flower. It was from there that the plant began its victorious march and eventually spread to all continents except Australia.

Salvia in Latin sounds like “salvus” and translates as “to be healthy.” This flower is named so, to put it mildly, in a completely unfloral way, due to its unique capabilities. And this is where the fun begins...

The thing is that there are varieties of salvia that have healing properties and are widely used in medicine. Medicinal salvias are usually called “sage”. Each of us has heard this name more than once.

note: Salvia is called an ornamental plant, and sage is a medicinal plant. Although in essence they are the same flower.

According to one version, the flower received its melodious name from the Latin “salvare”, which means “to save”. For hundreds of years, medicinal sage was known as the main healer in the treatment of diseases of the upper respiratory tract, toothache, etc.

Reference: in ancient times they said: “plant sage in the garden - you will not need doctors.”

In Southern Europe, salvia was worshiped and considered a sacred herb. It was believed that this flower can prolong life. In Egypt, salvia was used for cosmetic purposes. And women dreaming of children took sage decoction to improve reproductive functions.

Fact: The antibacterial drug “Salvin” is obtained from the flowers.

Salvia as ornamental plant began to be used only in the 18th century. When growing flowers at home, two goals were pursued at once: decorating the home and eating the leaves as a spice.

Salvia is a long-time companion of all city flower beds and front gardens. They willingly grow it on private personal plots. The secret of its popularity is quite simple: bright flowers can decorate even the most sparse space, and growing and caring for flower bushes is no problem.

Salvia flowers are spectacular both in flower arrangements and single locations. If desired, salvia can be grown in flowerpots and pots. From different varieties of this amazing plant you can assemble an elegant monoflower that will delight the eye from June until frost.

Biological description of salvia

Salvia is the general name of a whole genus of herbs belonging to the Lamiaceae (or Lamiaceae) family. Salvia is represented by annual and perennial herbaceous plants, subshrubs and shrubs. All of them are united by the structure of the inflorescences: numerous flowers are collected in large clusters, constituting ½ of the bush. The color of the flowers can be pink, purple, or white, but varieties with bright red hues are especially valued.

The root system of salvia is very developed, strong, and powerful. The central root produces many additional shoots, which are overgrown with numerous roots. However, despite the fact that in southern countries salvia is cultivated as a perennial, in our country it is impossible to grow the flower in this way, because the roots quickly freeze out in severe frosts.

The Salvia genus contains, according to various sources, from 700 to 900 different varieties and subspecies. These are compact low-growing or medium-growing bushes 20-100 centimeters high. Bottom part The plant is densely strewn with dark large leaves, from the thicket of which long, erect, tetrahedral stems shoot arrows. At their ends, complex whorled inflorescences are formed in the form of a voluminous ear. Each spike consists of several dozen small flowers (up to 90 pieces). A special role is played by the spectacular bracts, which are usually painted a different color than the flowers, and this color is brighter and more saturated. The fruit forms four nuts. The seeds ripen towards the end of the plant's flowering. They can be sown next year. The seeds have very good germinating power for 4-5 years.

Salvia propagation

Those who have little time to arrange a garden (or simply don’t want to “bother”) buy already mature salvia with blooming flowers. However, experience suggests that growing flowers from seeds brings much more interesting specimens. Seeds produce more unusual varieties that you can create annually with your own hands.

Salvia is propagated by four enough in simple ways. Knowing their technique, you can choose the most suitable option for breeding your salvia.

Salvia propagation methods:

note: Salvia flowers are easy to cross, so different varieties need to be planted at a distance from each other.

1. Cuttings. Perhaps the most popular and least labor-intensive way to propagate a flower. To do this, small cuttings (10-15 centimeters long), on which buds have already formed, are cut from an adult plant. The twigs are placed in a glass of water and placed in a shaded place. Over time, wilted leaves need to be removed. After 12-14 days the branch will give roots. When the length of the roots reaches 1-2 centimeters, the branch can be planted in a permanent place. During the first days, you need to care for the young plant more carefully, spending regular watering and creating penumbra.

Advice: during germination of cuttings, the water in the glass must be changed.

1. Dividing the bush. At the end of summer, the salvia bush is dug up, carefully separating part of the root. The divided bushes are planted again in the ground. This propagation method is suitable for perennial salvia. In the northern regions, it is preferable to choose other types of reproduction.

note: Salvia should be planted at a considerable distance from each other. Too dense planting will lead to stretched plants and poor flowering.

When to plant seedlings

Those who have already had experience growing salvia at home claim that this flower is quite demanding during the period of seedling germination. Indeed, grow healthy seedlings salvia is not easy, since plants are quite sensitive to environmental conditions. Often fragile shoots are affected by fungal diseases and die without even surviving the dive. However, no amount of trouble can compare with the joy of contemplating the lush flowering of this annual plant.

Important: Salvia seeds can be sown directly in open ground. However, there are varieties (for example, brilliant salvia) that are grown only through seedlings.

The process of growing salvia seedlings begins with planning the date for planting the seeds. Since the plants of this crop have a long growing season, which is 80-110 days, it is recommended to sow at the end of February. This time is enough for the young bushes to be ready for planting in the ground by the beginning of June.

The germination time of seeds may depend on their type. Granulated seeds usually take a little longer to germinate, although they are considered higher quality and more resilient.

Salvia sowing dates in 2018 according to the lunar calendar

When planning agricultural activities, many gardeners prefer to refer to the lunar sowing calendar. This garden horoscope takes into account the impact of the celestial body on the flora of the Earth: depending on what phase the Moon is in, plants begin to grow faster, acquire vitality, or, conversely, stop their development. The lunar cycle suggests the presence of favorable and unfavorable days for sowing, picking, planting in the ground and other work with plants.

In 2018, according to lunar calendar Salvia sowing should be done on dates such as:

• February – 19-22;
• March – 12-14 and 21-25;
• April – 7-10 and 17-21.

It is best to plant in open ground between May 5 and 9 and June 15 and 26.

TO unfavorable days include the periods of new moon and full moon. In 2018, “stagnant” days will be in:

• February - 1, 15-17;
• March - 1-3, 16-18, 30, 31;
• April - 1, 15-16, 29-30;
• May - 12-14, 28-30;
• June - 12-14, 27-29.

Preparing the soil for sowing

Salvia, like any other flower, grows well in light, well-drained and nutritious soil. Expanded clay or other drainage is first placed at the bottom of the seedling container, and a soil mixture consisting of peat, humus and garden soil (in a ratio of 2:1:2) is poured on top of it. Before sowing, the soil mixture must be disinfected by spilling it with a manganese solution.

Note: The soil pH level should not exceed 6.5 units.

Sowing seeds

If loose seeds are planted, it is easier to mix them with sand, since they are very small and it will not be possible to sow them while maintaining the required distance. A mixture of seeds and sand is spread in a thin layer over the surface of the soil and watered with water. There is no need to bury the seeds and cover them with soil, since due to their miniature size they have little vitality to germinate through the soil.

The crops are covered with glass or film. This will help create greenhouse effect inside the seedling container, which will have a beneficial effect on the emergence of seedlings. The optimal temperature for healthy growth of seedlings is +25 degrees.

When the seeds hatch, the film is removed from the box, and the seedlings are placed on sunny place. Daylight hours for seedlings are at least 12 hours.

It is important to control the soil moisture level. Do not allow the soil to dry out or become overly moist. Any of the conditions can lead to disease of the shoots and their death.

After the first leaves appear on the shoots, the seedlings are picked. This is necessary in order to develop a powerful root system on the seedlings. For each sprout, a separate container is selected, in which there will be enough space to fully develop.

note: It is better to pick twice. For the first time, the seedlings are planted in a common box at a distance of 6-7 centimeters from each other. The second time, the seedlings are transferred to individual containers.

One and a half to two weeks after picking, the flowers are fed for the first time. In general, salvia is very fond of various complex feedings. It is best to alternate organic and mineral fertilizers, which are applied at the root once every two weeks.

Planting in open ground

With the establishment warm weather A place for salvia is being prepared in the flower garden. The soil should be light, air and water permeable, well fertilized. When planting a bed, lime, sand and humus are added to the soil.

note: in the southern regions, salvia is planted in early May, in central Russia - in the last days of spring, in the northern regions and the Moscow region - until mid-June.

Among the large number of different varieties of this flower, there are some that grow well in shady places(Salvia adhesive). But the absolute majority of salvias prefer to bloom their bright flowers in the sun.

Two weeks before transplantation, seedlings begin to harden. The seedlings are accustomed to lower air temperatures day by day, taking them outside first for a couple of hours and then leaving them for the whole day. Seedlings prepared in this way will quickly take root in the new land.

Salvia is planted in holes at a distance of 20 centimeters from each other. Minerals and a handful of ash are first added to the hole.

Important: the higher the growth of a varietal plant, the less often it is necessary to plant.

Flower care

As soon as the flowers are transferred to the flower garden, we can assume that the most difficult stage of growing salvia has been completed. Now all that remains is to carry out simple agricultural work as necessary and admire the abundant flowering.

Salvia, like the vast majority of flowers, loves timely watering, plenty of sun, warmth and frequent feeding.

Salvia easily tolerates a lack of water. The less often you water, the lower the bush will grow, acquire fewer leaves, and bloom earlier. In hot summers, salvia is watered abundantly only at first, until pedicels begin to form on the bush. This way you can get a lush, strong bush that will bloom very intensively. But during the flowering period, you don’t have to water the salvia at all - this will not affect the decorative flowers in any way.

After watering, you should loosen the soil under the bushes so that the roots receive the optimal amount of moisture and air.

You don't need much for salvia flowers. organic fertilizers. Even when destroying a flower bed, it is worth restraining your ardor and adding a minimum of humus to the soil, since on very nutritious soil with a high nitrogen content, a huge green mass will grow, and the plant will not bloom well. Nitrogen-containing mixtures (humus, compost, manure) are needed only at the beginning of plant shoot formation. Further, during the period of bud formation and flowering, the bushes should be nourished with products based on phosphorus and potassium.

It is best to feed salvia with complex mineral formulations throughout the summer at intervals of 2-3 weeks.

Note: When planting salvia, I use only rotted manure.

Caring for perennial varieties is more painstaking. Shrubs need to be shaped and pruned to encourage the growth of additional shoots. After pruning, the bush does not stretch upward, but in width, and the intensity of its flowering increases significantly. After the color season is closed, a final “haircut” is performed, removing all woody shoots and old buds. Salvia can be left to overwinter in the ground, securely covered with layers of compost and mulch. But some gardeners prefer to dig up rhizomes and store them in the cellar until spring.

note: Salvia blooms all summer and part of autumn. Some varieties manage to bloom twice a season. For example, if you completely cut off the Forest Salvia after flowering and apply mineral fertilizers at the root, by autumn you can get a new batch of fragrant flowers.

Salvia pests

Salvia is one of those flowers that practically does not get sick. This is a very viable and resilient plant that many gardeners have never encountered such problems in their entire “flower growing” life. The only thing that can cripple a plant is too much humidity and low temperature. In such conditions, mold and mildew may develop. Taking this into account, you need to avoid stagnation of water in the area where salvia grows. And if the soil becomes moldy, treat it with sulfur-containing preparations.

Main diseases of salvia:

• False powdery mildew. Symptoms: a white coating appears on the underside of the leaf, and yellow-brown spots form on the top. The leaves dry out and rot. The disease occurs on plants that grow in waterlogged environments. Treatment: diseased plants need to be treated with copper-containing preparations.
• Salvia roots can be affected by blackleg and rot. This can happen due to poor-quality soil, which at the time of sowing already had fungal pathogens in its structure. Symptoms: the root collar of the plant dies, the roots turn brown and die. Affected yellow areas form in the root part. Treatment: diseased plants cannot be cured. It is possible to avoid the appearance of this disease only by using sterile soil and adding fertilizing in the form of microelements.

Pests attack delicate flowers much more often. The appearance of aphids, whiteflies and spider mite on the leaves of a flower is a common occurrence. You can get rid of insects using insecticides.

Reference: aphids settle on salvia leaves, sucking out the vital juices. In addition, aphids carry viral infections that weaken the plant and lead to its death.

In general, in order to prevent the appearance of uninvited guests, when planning plantings, you can arrange a flower garden in places adjacent to vegetable beds. It is known that aphids usually feast on vegetables and head straight to the flower bed. In addition, when treated with pesticides, harmful substances can settle on vegetables.

Works great against aphids and mites folk remedy– a soap solution used to treat bushes. Enveloping the bodies of insects, soap prevents them from breathing and they die.

Salvia is often attacked by slugs and snails. You can cope with them only by collecting them manually, or using cunning folk tricks. For example, barrels or cans of beer or juice are installed in different parts of the garden. The sweetish smell of fermentation will lure pests instantly. You can also scatter sawdust, tree bark, pieces of slate under flower bushes - in general, any mulch that will become a protective barrier for insects.

Salvia species

As mentioned earlier, the Salvia genus numbers about 900 various types perennial, less often one- and two-year-old shrubs and subshrubs. Depending on the place of growth and the characteristics of agricultural technology, salvia species are conventionally divided into three large groups:

1. Salvia of American subtropics.
2. Mediterranean salvia.
3. Salvia of the temperate climate zone.

First group

This includes salvia species that are very demanding of heat and sun. Plants do not tolerate sharp changes temperatures, cold snaps and high humidity. Therefore, all salvias belonging to this group are grown exclusively as annual flowers.

Salvia shiny or sparkling (S. splendens Selloex Nees)

Shiny salvia has long been used to decorate flower beds and front gardens. This type of flower does not have healing properties, but owes its wild popularity to its beautiful appearance.

Salvia brilliantis is classified as a perennial plant, but in Russia it is grown as an annual, since the fragile southern plant cannot withstand the harsh winter climate of our country.

Reference: Salvia splendor grows wild in tropical America. The plant was officially registered in 1822.

The Salvia brilliantis plant stands out among other flowers due to its structure: a bush up to 80 centimeters high is topped with large, irregularly shaped flowers resembling a pyramid. Blazing bright red flowers occupy almost half the entire length of the stem. Each brush forms 2-6 flowers, which in turn are collected into a voluminous spike-shaped inflorescence from 12 to 25 centimeters long.

Salvia has a long growing season, which is 100-120 days. If you want to see salvia blooming at the end of June, then it is better to sow the seeds in the first days of March. Salvia brillianti blooms profusely and for a long time, until mid-October. Salvia can be propagated by its seeds, which remain viable for up to five years.

Salvia splendor is an ideal flower for decorating floral arrangements. Salvia goes well with other flowers, for example, with sea cineraria, feverfew, and kochia broom. Great demand for salvia has given rise to new varieties that differ in flower color: it can be orange, red, salmon, burgundy, dark purple, pink and white.

The most common varieties of Salvia shiny:

• Sahara,
• Salvator,
• Red Arrows.

note: The color of salvia often determines its flowering. So pink varieties have short term bloom. Purple salvia, which is characterized by velvety flowers, blooms until the end of October.

Salvia bright red (Salvia coccinea)

Novice gardeners will most likely confuse this subshrub with Salvia brilliantis, since these two varieties are very similar in the structure of the bushes and flowers. Red salvia also comes from Central America. In tropical and subtropical conditions, the flower is cultivated as a perennial, but in our country it is customary to plant it as an annual plant.

The main difference between red salvia is that its flowering is significantly inferior to brilliant salvia. Therefore, this variety is not so widespread.

Salvia red is a medium-sized shrub that often reaches a height of 50-70 centimeters. The strong stem is overgrown with dozens of spreading branches, which in turn form dense dark green foliage. The inflorescences are single-stemmed, up to 25-30 centimeters in length. Peduncles consist of 4-6 flowers with a red corolla.

The flowering period of this salvia takes a very long period - from mid-June until the onset of frost.

Red salvia has several varieties that have received prestigious national awards. The most famous of them:

• "Lady in Red" (Ladyin Red);
• CoralNymph;
• Forest Fire;
• Cherry Blossom;
• Pseudococcinea;
• Snow Nymph;
• Lactea;
• Jewel Red;
• Jewel Lavender;
• Jewel Pink.

Salvia farinacea

An unpretentious, resilient flower native to Central America, which is an excellent addition to various flower arrangements. By themselves, mealy salvia flowers are not particularly impressive, but together with other flowers they look very decent.

Salvia bushes of this variety are tall, often reaching a meter in height. Plants have pubescent, erect stems that have numerous branches. Externally, the bush looks compact and voluminous, resembling a pyramid. The leaves are large, wavy, oblong, with a pointed end. The calyxes of the inflorescence are covered with short hairs. The number of whorls on flowers varies from 5-28 pieces.

Salvia mealy is remembered by the eye with a delicate lilac-blue color, in which the calyxes, corollas and the upper part of the peduncle are painted. It is noteworthy that the color is preserved even when the bouquet is dried. Salvia blooms from mid-August until late autumn, delighting the eye of a passerby.

Advice: if you want to extend the life of your salvia, then transplant the bush into a large pot and leave it to overwinter in a bright and cool room. In the spring, when the snow melts, the flower can be sent outside again. The plant will bloom in May.

The most popular varieties:

• Anschuld;
• Strata;
• Victoria.

Second group

This category includes species that are not afraid of drought and are more frost-resistant. All that is needed for the full growth of salvias of this group is loose soil and an abundance of mineral fertilizers.

Green or variegated salvia (Salvia viridis)

TO decorative variety This species includes Salvia horminum (or “horminum”, which is from the Latin. Salvia horminum). This is the brightest representative of this genus.

Green salvia belongs to the Mediterranean type - flowers in this category tolerate cold better, withstand drought, and do not require frequent watering.

home distinguishing feature green salvia plants have brightly colored large bracts. It is they, and not the flowers, that give the impressive appearance compositions from this flower.

The plants of this annual plant reach a height of 60 cm. On the central trunk, pubescent stems with medium-sized oval leaves are formed. The flowers are small, reaching a diameter of no more than two centimeters, collected in a common peduncle of 5-8 pieces. Their color is white with a pale pink corolla. The bracts are much more intensely colored - juicy purple or bright pink with darker veins.

Green salvia, like most varieties, begins flowering in mid-June. Flowers typically finish their season of color by late summer, while bracts retain color until late September.

The most popular varieties:

• White Swan;
• Oxford Blue;
• Pink Sunday.

Note: Everyone enjoys the variegated salvia variety. But one “but” is still present - if the support is not installed in time, the long stems of the variegated plant will quickly fall to the ground and ruin the entire composition.

Salvia verticillata

In Russia, this variety of salvia is found mainly in wild form. It can also be found in forests Western Europe and Asia. Distinctive feature whorled salvia - its purple flowers, collected in dense and tall narrow peduncles - whorls. The inflorescences themselves are simple, have one or two pairs of long branches, with 20-40 flowers 2 centimeters long. The tubular calyx is colored in lilac shades, and the corolla is usually either violet or whitish.

The plant itself is determinate, with an average height of 50 centimeters. The stems branch only at the base. Peduncles rise high above the green crown on long petioles, pointing their sharp wedges into the sky.

Reference: Salvia of this subspecies is an excellent honey plant. Bees love this flower very much. It produces abundant nectar - often the corolla tubes are half filled with sweet substrate. The honey obtained is transparent, light yellow in color, with an excellent taste and tart honey aroma.

Salvia dandelion (Salvia taraxacifolia)

The variety is distinguished by a pleasant spicy aroma that comes from the flowers, leaves, and branches. This subshrub has straight, weakly branched stems, on which a large number of pinnate, dissected leaves grow, which grow in clusters, gathering into basal rosettes. Top part The leaves are smooth, and light pubescence predominates on the inside. The inflorescence is simple, long (25-28 centimeters), consists of a whorl in which up to 8 flowers are collected. The corolla has a pinkish tint.

Salvia jurisicii

The least common type of salvia in Russia. The structure of the plant and the structure of the peduncles are of no interest to decorators. Therefore, this salvia is not used in gardening due to the lack of decorative value.

Third group

This group of salvias includes cold-resistant plants - perennials that overwinter in open ground without problems. They grow quite abundantly in the temperate climate zone and are quite easy to care for. All you need to do is cover the roots of the flower with winter period. Abundant flowering These salvias begin to grow in their second year of life.

Important: Ethiopian salvia is also classified in this group, although it is a biennial plant.

Oak forest salvia (Salvia nemorosa/Salvia sylvestris)

Perhaps the easiest variety to care for of this flower. Salvia plants are tall; the height of its branched, slightly pubescent stems sometimes reaches 120 centimeters. The leaves are large, ribbed, with a sharp end.

Inflorescences are complex. They have lateral branches and consist of false whorls, each of which produces up to 6 small flowers. The flowers can be red, lilac, violet or purple with a blue-violet corolla. Bright decoration The entire flower bush consists of large purple bracts, which are much brighter than the flowers themselves.

note: Perennial cold-resistant salvia species can withstand temperatures down to -18 degrees.

The most popular varieties:

Salvia glutinosa

The favorite place for the flower to grow is the middle latitudes of Russia. The height of plants sometimes reaches 90 centimeters. The central trunk is overgrown with numerous straight branches-stems and large long-petioled leaves of a light green and sometimes yellowish hue.

Light yellow, small flowers are collected in simple inflorescences-whorls. The plant blooms from late summer to mid-autumn, as long as the weather is warm and dry. On summer cottages This variety of salvia cannot be found. The sticky variety is predominantly wild in nature and adorns forest-steppe areas.

Salvia x superba

Another perennial plant growing in forest-steppes. Compared to other varieties, lush salvia does not differ in its original color or lush flowering. perennial shrub opens its buds by the end of summer and blooms slowly until mid-October, right up to the first snow.

The height of lush salvia plants is 55-65 centimeters. Inflorescences in the form of colossi reach 25 cm in length. The color of numerous small flowers is blue-violet.

The most recognizable varieties:

Important! There is another type of salvia - Divinorum (Salvia divinorum). This plant is prohibited in Russia, as it has psychotropic hallucinogenic properties. Shamans in the wild tribes of Africa and South America They use this salvia for their rituals.

The most interesting varieties of salvia

Salvia greggii

This is a compact perennial that is grown in southern latitudes both in open areas and in pots. Plants are low-growing, weakly branched. Flowering begins in early summer and ends only with the onset of cold nights in mid-September.

Salvia Gregga includes a series of unusually tender and beautiful plants, bearing numerous miniature flowers. Gregg's bushes are modest in size but very beautiful. Salvia varieties of this variety tend to get along with coniferous trees. The leaves of the plants are small and fragile. The inflorescences, which rise above the green foliage with the help of spiky, bare stems, are strewn with white, red and pink flowers.

In Russia, Salvia Gregg is practically not represented, although not deservedly so. After all, plants of these varieties have an unusual flower shape and a pleasant, pronounced sage aroma. Only enthusiastic flower growers are familiar with it.

Cambridge

This salvia variety is distinguished by its large-flowered structure. The inflorescences are located on short stems along almost the entire length. Large flowers are almost twice the size of the leaves, which during flowering remain at the lower level of the flower bush. From a distance, the flower branch looks like a gladiolus. The flowers can be distinguished only by the persistent smell of sage, which spreads throughout the area. Flowers can be of various light shades

Salvia of this variety grows well in sunny and windless areas. She responds with gratitude to frequent watering and timely feeding.

Despite the fact that Cambridge is grown mainly in the southern regions, the variety has excellent vitality characteristics. Salvia is resistant to cold and can survive winter even in the ground if the covering material is reliable.

Cambridge is suitable for all types of front gardens. There is always a place for it in the flower garden, along the borders, and in flowerpots. Delicate flowers look especially impressive in group compositions.

Rio

If we compare the appearance of salvia flowers with other flowers, many will most likely find similarities with lilacs. Dense inflorescences, in which numerous small-sized flowers are collected, are painted in the same blue-purple hue. Flowers, cups and pedicels have the same shade. External structure The flower is also similar to a bunch of lilacs.

The Rio variety is a variety of mealy salvia. In our country, this perennial is grown as an annual plant. The variety is low-growing, bushy, but compact. Great for growing along paths or along the side of a flower bed. Rio can also be grown in flowerpots and pots.

This salvia is propagated by seedlings. Young seedlings are planted in open ground at the end of May. And within a month the bush will bloom with a bright blue head of flowers.

Rio - pretty unpretentious variety. The bush can grow on any soil and can withstand heat and lack of water. However, to improve flowering, you should take care of frequent feeding, which flowers love very much.

Cassiopeia

An unusual plant from the Lamiaceae family, which forms a luxurious dwarf bush up to 25 centimeters high and is overgrown with strong, long, erect branches. The interesting combination of colors on the inflorescences and bracts immediately catches your eye. Small flowers collected in dense inflorescences are usually white, while the bracts are bright red.

Salvia blooms early, already at the beginning of summer and lasts three to four months. The shrub grows best in sunny, warm areas (although it is not averse to living in shaded conditions), among other flower crops.

note: For more vigorous flowering, it is recommended to pinch young plants.

Bonfire

Unique tall variety salvia, which is widely known in Russia. Plants stretch up to 60 centimeters in height and have dense foliage. Numerous strong branches form many racemose inflorescences, which are formed from dozens of small flowers of bright red, fiery color. Kostera blooms early and long-lasting. Because of its spectacular appearance and lush color, the variety is most often placed in ceremonial flower beds, grouped with smaller plants.

The great popularity of the Koster variety is also explained by the ease of caring for flowers.

The flower seedlings grow together and strong, almost without waste. Already at the end of May, young bushes can be transferred to the ground. And already in the last days of June the buds begin to glow in the sun.

Kostera plants are freedom-loving and drought-resistant. They grow in neutral and loose soil, richly fertilized with mineral components.

Cardinal

A bright salvia variety that has similar characteristics to the Koster described above. The plants are tall in nature. However, the bushes are distinguished by their compact structure. They also have a rich green crown and clusters of red flowers. The flowers look very elegant and even more airy than those of the brilliant salvia varieties.

Please note: long flower stalks can sometimes droop, so staking may be required.

Light-loving and drought-resistant salvia is cultivated as an annual. It can withstand a sharp drop in temperature without damaging flowering. Blooms from mid-June until frost.

Cardinal can be grown in flowerpots, but it looks more advantageous among other flowers.

Fact: the Cardinal variety is a classic element of ceremonial flower beds.

Scarlett

The most popular variety for decorating front windows. Belongs to a variety of Salvia sparkling.

The height of plants does not exceed 45 centimeters. Miniature bushes are densely overgrown with dark green foliage, from the thicket of which arrow-like stems shoot upward, at the ends of which peduncles-clusters are formed, collected from numerous bright red flowers. In the sun, they look like tongues of flame that sparkle throughout the entire garden with their unusually beautiful color.

Scarlett is an early variety. In order for plants to bloom at the beginning of summer, seeds are sown for seedlings in early March. It is preferable to plant salvia in loose and fertile land with a small amount of organic matter. The place in the garden for salvia is given to the brightest and most windless place.

Advice: Since the variety is low-growing, you can grow Salvia Scarlett on the balcony.