How to plant, grow & care for Salvias

Supplying sumptuous colour for months on end, salvias form a large and diverse group of plants, which are always in demand. Often appearing in slender spires, the nectar-rich flowers are a magnet for bees and butterflies - and when woven through the border they’ll also add all-important structure and definition.

TOP TIPS FOR HAPPY SALVIAS

Plant them in a sun-drenched spot - either in borders or in pots on the patio
Good drainage is essential - particularly in winter
Snip off flowers as they fade so even more will form
Grow less hardy (generally larger flowered) varieties in pots, which can be moved to a warmer spot when the temperatures drop
Shelter from cold, drying winds
Take softwood cuttings in summer or semi-hardwood cuttings in autumn, and overwinter them in a cold frame or greenhouse before planting out in spring
The old top-growth will help insulate the rootball in winter, so don’t cut it back until new growth is starting to appear in spring