748 



PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS 



SALVIA 



long, downy outside, in twiggy racemes. 

 The variety inajor grows taller and has 

 larger flowers than the type ; pseudo- 

 coccinea is usually recognised by its 

 hairiness; andi punicea (or superha) has 

 more showy and velvety scarlet flowers ; 

 there is a dwarf strain of it. 



Culture and Propagation. — Although 

 a perennial this species may be treated as 

 an annual, and raised from seeds sown 

 in heat every February or March and 

 planted out in May or June. Seeds may 

 also be sown in autumn, protecting the 

 plants under glass until planting out 

 time. This entails a lot of work, without 

 sufficient recompense in earliness of 

 blossom. 



S. farinacea. — A pretty Mexican 

 perennial, about 3 ft. high, forming vigo- 

 rous tufts of erect stems, having long- 

 stalked, smooth, shining, oval, crenulate 

 leaves. Flowers from August to October, 

 violet-blue, in long interrupted spikes. 

 Calyx pale violet, densely tomentose ; 

 lower lip of the corolla with an obcordate 

 2-lobed middle division, and a white 

 throat. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 vigorous species is useful for groups, beds, 

 borders &c., and although a perennial 

 may be raised annually from seeds sown 

 in heat about February and March, and 

 planted out in May or June. 



S. Gregrgi. — An ornamental Sage 

 native of Texas to Mexico. It forms a 

 large much-branched bush 3-4 ft. high 

 and has rather small bluntly ovate entire 

 leaves. The rosy-carmine or crimson 

 flowers appear from August until cut down 

 by the frost, and are borne at the ends of 

 the shoots in long spikes. The individual 

 flowers are medium in size, and remark- 

 able for a very broad lip. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 species is almost perfectly hardy in the 

 milder parts of the country, and is no 

 doubt quite so in the most favourable parts 

 of the kingdom. It flourishes in ordinary 

 good garden soil, and is readily increased 

 by seeds sown in gentle heat in spring, or 

 in cold frames in autumn. Cuttings may 

 also be inserted in sandy soil in summer 

 and autumn. 



S. hians. — A pretty hairy Himalayan 

 perennial about 2 ft. high with broadly 

 ovate leaves, heart-shaped sagittate or 

 trimcate at the base. Flowers in summer, 



beautiful blue, in slightly branched 

 racemes. 



Culture do. as above. Raise from 

 seed in early spring, and plant out in 

 May or June. 



S. Horminum {8. colorata). — A native 

 of S. Europe about 1^ ft. high with erect 

 hairy stems. Leaves oval oblongrounded 

 or wedge-shaped at the base, blunt, crenate, 

 hairy, the upper ones ovate heart-shaped. 

 Flowers in summer, purple, in simple 

 racemes. The variety purpurea has 

 rosy - carmine or reddish - purple bracts 

 with deeper coloured veins. There is also 

 a variety with whitish bracts. 



Culture and Propagation. — This is 

 a good plant in groups and masses, 

 the coloured bracts constituting the chief 

 charm. It hkes rich light soil and warm 

 situations and may be raised from seed 

 sown in heat in February or March, or in 

 the open ground in April and May, the 

 seedlings eventually being planted about 

 9 in. apart. Useful for cutting. 



S. officinalis aurea. — This is a dwarf 

 compact form of the common grey-leaved 

 garden Sage, having yellow instead of 

 blue flowers. It makes a handsome 

 border plant. The variety tricolor is also 

 handsome, having grey-green leaves often 

 tinged with yellowish white or flesh 

 colour, afterwards changing to rose and 

 sometimes red. 



Culttvre dc. as above. Increased by 

 seed, division, or cuttings. 



S. patens {S. spectahilis ; 8. 

 macram.tha). — A beautiful tuberous-rooted 

 Mexican perennial about 2^ ft. high 

 with erect hairy stems. Leaves ovate 

 deltoid crenate, hastate or roimded at the 

 base, hairy. Flowers in autumn, deep 

 blue, upwards of 2 in. long, in erect spikes. 

 There is a variety alba with white 

 flowers. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 species is not hardy enough to stand the 

 winter as a rule, but its tuberous roots 

 may be protected with litter &c., or lifted 

 and kept in sand in dry airy places free 

 from frost like Dahlia roots. Cuttings 

 may be rooted in autumn and sheltered 

 under glass until the following May or 

 June. Seeds may also be sown in February 

 and March in heat, the young plants 

 being grown on as with other kinds. 



S. ringens. — A shrubby species, 1-2 

 ft. high, native of Greece. Leaves stalked, 



