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Salvia 'Waverly'

Speaking of Salvias...
I just measured the Salvia 'Waverly' in the Salvia collection at Cabrillo 
College today (we have 155 different Salvias planted out and labeled in 
the garden and the results are 8 ft. wide with  the tallest flower spike 
reaching 53 inches high. The plant is in full sun and was planted from a 
one gallon 3 years ago. I have also grown Salvia 'Waverly'  in partial 
shade at Berkeley Horticultural Nursery. Both plants are spectacular, 
both plants bloomed nearly year around, both plants attracted many 
hummingbirds and both plants never set any seed. Definitely a great 
Salvia for the garden and/or a large display pot. The only pruning I do 
on an infrequent basis is to remove the longest and most contorted of the 
most mature flower spikes.

The one in the ground at Cabrillo has grown wider as the  outer lower 
stems have laid on the ground and rooted but I have yet to see any 
underground rhizomatous behavior. I did make a mistake by moving the 15 
gallon container specimen at Berk Hort Nursery from partial shade with 
overhead protection into nearly full sun with no protection. The plant 
was quite brittle and fell apart during our El Nino hard winter rains. 
The acclimatized plant at Cabrillo bore the full force of the winter 
storms and is in great shape.

The other mystery Salvia that people have been talking about is I believe 
Salvia scordifolia. Our planted out specimens are still young but I will 
measure their size and report back. 

Anyone visiting the Santa Cruz County area should come visit our 
collection. Its open to the public during daylight hours seven days a 
week. Cabrillo College is located at 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos, 
California, which is just south of Santa Cruz. From the upper end of the 
horticulture facilities one can see the entire arc of Monterey Bay.  If 
there is interest in knowing which Salivas are in our collection I could 
everyone the list. Please also remember that     Mother's Day weekend 
every year we have our giant annual plant sale. We usually offer 
somewhere between 85 to 100 different Salvia selections. Sue Templeton, 
the caretaker of the Australian national Salvia collection was in town 
last weekend and had a great visit amongst our Sages. There really are 
alot of Salvia fanatics worldwide!

Enjoying my new job and environs,
Amongst the Sages,
Ernie

Among the Sages of Cabrillo College
155 different Salvias and growing...

Ernie G. Wasson
Ben Lomond,California 
"All Plants Considered" column at www.gardens.com
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