Re: Salvia stenophyllum
- To: M*@ucdavis.edu
- Subject: Re: Salvia stenophyllum
- From: R* F* D*
- Date: Wed, 3 May 2000 23:00:17 -0400 (EDT)
At 12:53 PM 5/3/2000 -0700, you wrote:
>At 05:49 PM 4/30/00 -0700, Nan Sterman wrote:
>>Anyone got any experience with Salvia stenophyllum? What culture
>>conditions does it prefer? What color are the flowers? How large does it
>>grow?
>
>Nan -
>
>I don't know this plant, and cannot find much about it in my
>references. But Silverhill Seeds does list it in their online catalog with
>this information:
>
>"0.6m perenn, aromatic finely-divided leaves, pale blue to pinkish fl
>Sp-Au, sand & limestone. Sow Sp. Zone 7."
>
>Sounds like this is from the summer rainfall areas since they mention
>sowing the seed in Spring (for the winter rainfall species, they usually
>say sow in Autumn). It also looks like it requires excellent drainage
>(growign on sand and limestone). I hope this gives you some
>information. As a general rule, I've always heard that Sound African
>Salvias are somewhat unremarkable and very similar in character. Looking
>over Silverhill's brief list, I find enough diversity in their terse
>descriptions to be more interested myself!
>
>Regards,
>Sean O.
Sean:
I've grown most of the Salvias offered by Silverhill the last few years, and
all are better than stenophyllum. They are unknown as to species, but I bet
Ian Hedge could identify herbarium specimens. They aren't the best of the S
African sages, but are definitely not scruffy or insignificant. I would
estimate that there are about 10 worth pursuing. These are available from
various nurseries now, and are probably about the best of the genus in S.
Africa.
Salvia muirii - 1" deep blue flowers on a compact plant that has small
foliage, the most like S. greggii in habit for any Old World Salvia I have
seen yet.
S. chamelaeagnea - has light green foliage and dense heads of fairly large
lavender and white flowers with small burgundy calyxes. This is quite nice
in bloom.
S. aurea (S. africana-lutea) - has almost 2" orange-brown flowers with
lipped calyxes on 2 to 3 foot stems. Grey-green fairly tidy foliage.
S. africana (S. africana-caerulea) - another white and purple flowered
species, similar to S. chaemaeagnea, not quite as showy but still nice.
S. dentata - cousin to S. africana, with somewhat larger flowers, later
blooming.
S. dolomitica - a large-flowered cousin? of S. africana with calyxes that
expand in fruit.
S. scabra - a Cape coastal species that has thin, pale tubular flowers of
various shades of mauve to bluish and green, dandelion-like leaves. Looks
like a good seed producer. Tolerates my humid summers well, and reminds me
of our native S. lyrata.
Richard F. Dufresne
313 Spur Road
Greensboro, North Carolina 27406 USA
336-674-3105
