SALVIA farinacea 'Victoria'

Graceful herbaceous plant, evergreen perennial, with a typical erect and bushy habit. Native to Mexico, it can grow quickly up to 60 cm height maximum and a similar width. Branched from the base, it has erect stems bearing thin and smooth leaves, opposite and lanceolate, serrated and light green: these, unlike other species of Salvia, are not very aromatic. From late spring and up to the first cold, thin and long inflorescences, consisting of small flowers of an intense blue color, rise from the head of the leaves.

It is an easy-care plant that needs a sunny position; it needs only partial shade in very hot summer areas. It is suitable to any type of soil even if it prefers fertile, rich and well-drained ones. It tolerates long periods of drought but during in summer it benefits from sporadic irrigation which improves both foliage and flowering. It tolerates frost, however if it is too intense and prolonged it causes the death of the aerial part of the plant. Then with the first spring warmth it will grow back abundantly from the base, rich in new flower stems. In spring, even a strong pruning may be necessary to stimulate the growth of new branches that will make the plant thicker and more flowering. It is ideal in pots or containers and can be associated with other perennial weeds for the creation of contrasting foliage and mixed flowering borders. It can also be used to create low monospecies hedges or very colorful and long flowering flowerbeds.