NG5 SHERWOOD JUNE/JULY 2021

Hardy sages for
the flower garden
Most people’s introduction to
the wonderful world of salvias
is either courtesy of sage, the
well-loved herb grown from
time immemorial for its culinary
and medicinal value or perhaps
the bright red bedding plant
Salvia splendens traditionally
planted with blue lobelia and
white alyssum for a truly patriotic
display. However, hardy,
perennial salvias are becoming
increasingly popular as great
garden plants for people and
bees. These are not all edible
but make a wonderful, longlasting
display in the garden.
There is a vast array of perennial
salvias to choose from including
many tender types, but this
time I’m focusing on the hardy,
perennial European types that
are great for most gardens.
Of the European species, the
best for general garden use are
the wood sages and these are
varieties of Salvia nemorosa,
sylvestris and superba. They
grow in dry or moist soils and
can be grown in light shade or
a sunny spot. They grow well in
alkaline (chalky), neutral or mildly
acid soils. Add lime annually if
planting in extremely acid soils.
They have rough leaves and
short spikes of fl owers from
June through July. If you cut
them back hard after fl owering,
they will normally oblige with
more fl owers in late August into
September. The planting distance
for these is about 12-18in / 30-
45cm apart.
They come in many shades of
blue, pink, violet and white and
vary in height from 1ft / 30cm
through to 3ft 6in / 105cm.
Snow Hill and Blue Hill (properly
called by their German names
Schneehügel and Blauhügel)
are the shortest ones I grow
and are snow-white and skyblue
respectively. Among my
favourites are the slightly taller
May Night (indigo blue) and
East Friesland (blue) and the
lovely Rose Queen (pink).
The newer variety Caradonna
grows to about 2ft / 60cm tall
and has lovely blue fl owers and
black stems in summer adding to
their drama.
One of the tallest is the aptly
named Amethyst which grows to
3ft / 90cm or slightly more. This
one has a long fl owering period
from June to September or even
October without the need to be
cut back at all.
Of course, there are also many
ornamental varieties of the
herb sage for growing in a
free-draining, sunny spot and
you can fi nd types with purple,
golden and variegated leaves.
Martin Blow
Martin & Janet Blow run
Special Perennials.
OUR WEBSITE:
specialperennials.com
We also organise Plant Hunters’
Fairs, specialist plant fairs at
wonderful locations throughout
the season. Please see www.
planthuntersfairs.co.uk for a full list
of all our 2021 plant fairs.
PLANT FAIR DATES FOR
YOUR DIARY 2021
Please note all dates are subject to
change. Please check website for
all the latest updates and always
before travelling.
Middleton Hall, Nr Tamworth
B78 2AE on Saturday 8th May &
Sunday 27th June, (ticketed event)
Entry to Gardens & Plant Fair £3
1620’s House and Garden, Nr.
Coalville LE67 2FW on Sunday
23rd May, (ticketed event) Entry to
Garden & Plant Fair £1
Carsington Water, DE6 1ST on
Bank Holiday Monday 31st May,
FREE ENTRY to the plant fair &
country park (parking charge).
Thoresby Park Nr Ollerton,
Newark, Nottinghamshire NG22
9EP on Saturday 26th June, FREE
ENTRY to the plant fair & country
park (there is a small charge to
park).
Please note all dates are subject to
change. Please check website for all
the latest updates, ticketing info and
always before travelling.
Thoresby Park Nr Ollerton, Newark,
Nottinghamshire NG22 9EP on
Saturday 26th June, FREE ENTRY to
the plant fair & country park (there is
a small charge to park).
Middleton Hall, Nr Tamworth B78
2AE on Sunday 27th June, (ticketed
event) Entry to Gardens & Plant Fair
£3
1620’s House and Garden, Nr.
Coalville LE67 2FW on Sunday 1st
August, (ticketed event) Entry to
Garden & Plant Fair £1
Southwell Minster Education Garden,
Nottinghamshire NG25 0HD on
Sunday 8th August, Entry to plant fair
suggested donation £2