SALVIA leucantha

Description

Salvia leucantha

Height x Spread 150cm x 150cm

Salvia leucantha is a tender Mexican subshrub which is a feast for the senses. The semi-evergreen foliage, stems and flowers are all softly hirsute and feel comforting to the touch. The  flowers, which appear on arching racemes, are hot pink in our form, emerging from a fuzzy bright purple calyx. 

As this plant dislikes winter wet and cold, it lends itself to being planted into large containers that can be moved into a bright, frost free position for winter. Never plant this Salvia in anything other than sheltered, warm, sunny areas because cold drying winds will damage it horribly and too much moisture could make it rot. 

Natural salt tolerance means that this plant will do well in sheltered coastal gardens as well as wildlife friendly and urban sites. Cottage and informal gardens will benefit from the touch of exotic glamour it will impart. In winter it can be reduced in height to 30-60cm but do not take it lower or the tender new buds at the base of the plant could be damaged. As the new growth emerges in late spring you can take the old stems back to the first buds, but not until all danger of frost has passed, usually in late May