Salvia involucrata


Read about Salvia involucrata in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

Salvia involucrata, Cav. Half-hardy subshrub, several feet high: sts. shrubby; the branches elongated: lvs. petiolate, 2-3 in. long, ovate, acuminate, crenate-serrate at the middle, the base rotund-cuneate, glabrous; floral lvs. bract-like, sessile, broad-ovate, acuminate, colored, deciduous after anthesis: racemes spicate, in fl. subglobose, at length 4-6 in. long; floral whorls about 6-fld., approximate; calyx tubular-campanulate, striate, viscous, often colored, the teeth setaceous-acuminate; corolla rose, tube ventricose, generally long-exserted, sometimes short, galea villous. Aug. Mex. and Cent. Amer. B.M. 2872. B.R. 1205. R.H. 1858, p. 239. H.F. II. 2:204.—The floral lvs. are large, showy, and rather a rose-purple, the fls. frequently shading toward purple, Var. Bethellii, Hort. (S. Bethellii, Hort.), is a horticultural form with large, cordate-oval lvs. and bright rosy crimson or puce fls. borne in large terminal whorled spikes. F.M. 1881:464. G.C. II. 15:49. Var. Deschampsiana, Verl., grows 3 ft. or more high: lvs. cordate-acuminate: fls. in ovate spicate terminal clusters: bracts ovate, caducous, they and the calyx bright red; corolla bright rose. French garden origin. R.H. 1869:134, desc.


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Salvia involucrata0.jpg


Plant Characteristics
Lifespan: perennial
Origin: Mexico
Cultivation
Exposure: sun to shade"sun to shade" is not in the list (sun, part-sun, shade, unknown) of allowed values for the "Exposure" property.
Water: regular"regular" is not in the list (wet, moist, moderate, dry, less when dormant) of allowed values for the "Water" property.
Features: flowers
Sunset Zones: 8-24, 27-30
Scientific Names

Lamiaceae >

Salvia >

involucrata >


Large subshrub, sparsely branched, but dense with velvety rich green ovate leaves, up to 5in (13cm) long. Purplish red flowers come late summer to mid fall, in clusters up to a foot long, with individual flowers to 2in (5cm). Flowers have prominent bracts which are pink, and which fall with the opening of the flowers. Perennial, but may be grown as annual in cold winter climates.

Cultivation

S. involucrata calendar?
January:
February:
March: prune
April:
May:
June:
July: flowering
August: flowering
September: flowering
October: flowering
November:
December:
Notes:

Outdoors, Rosyleaf sage should be planted in soil that is light and somewhat fertile. Humus-rich moist soil is best, but good drainage is important. Grow in full sun to part shade, keeping in mind that those with dense/wooly leaves need full sun and particularly good drainage. Cut back water sharply in the winter. Should be heavily pruned each spring.

Indoors the plant should be grown under glass, in a potting mix with good drainage. Give it full light, with protection from strong direct sun. Water and fertilize freely while the plant is growing and blooming, but water very little in the winter, and do not fertlize.

Propagation

  • Cuttings - Root basal or softwood cutting from spring to early summer. Semi-ripe cuttings can be taken as well in late summer/autumn, and given bottom heat.
  • Seed - sow in spring in containers in cold frame, or in situ after frost danger is past.
  • Division - divide in spring.

Pests and diseases

  • Common - rust, powdery mildew, stem rot, fungal leaf spots.
  • Occasional - whiteflies, mealybugs, aphids, spidermites.

Cultivars

  • 'Bethellii' - has larger leaves which are also more velvety. Flowers are a bright purplish-crimson.
  • 'Mulberry Jam' - smaller upright hybrid which blooms continuously from summer to frost

Gallery

References

  • w:Salvia involucrata. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
  • Salvia involucrata QR Code (Size 50, 100, 200, 500)
  • American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432
  • Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608

External links