DYSONS NURSERIES
Salvia Specialists

Salvia ‘Anthony Parker’
(S.leucantha ‘Purple Velvet’ x S.elegans) A recent hybrid from America with dark purplish-blue flowers from autumn to spring. Half-hardy. Makes an excellent conservatory plant. 90cm

Salvia aurea ‘Kirstenbosch’
Evergreen shrub. Native to South Africa. Silvery-grey, aromatic leaves. The large flowers are an unusual rusty-brown colour and produced during early to midsummer. Persistent, conspicuous calyces turning from green to rusty-brown after the corollas have fallen. Half-hardy. 80cm.

Salvia blepharophylla ‘Diablo’
A more upright version of the above ,recently collected by Yucca-Do Nursery. Upward facing flowers with two anthers protruding from the upper hood. The leaves are a duller, mat green. Superb. The leaves of both of these forms take on a striking black hue when grown in a sunny position.

Salvia blepharophylla ‘Painted Lady’
This recent form is possibly the showiest of the species with larger flowers than the others.

Salvia sp. ‘Blue Chiquita’
We acquired this interesting plant in 2002 and have been amazed by the incredible length of its inflorescences; they are of greyish-green and carry many, pale lilac-blue flowers. The process of flower production and elongation of the inflorescence continuing for a considerable period. Flowering commences in August and continues until the frosts. 1.5m

Salvia chamaedryoides var. isochroma
A delightful form with silvery-grey leaves. Flowers are a shade lighter, but bluer. 50cm.

Salvia chamaedryoides ‘Marine Blue’
An Australian introduction and reputedly of hybrid origin. The flowers are a darker shade of blue than in the typical species. Very attractive. 60cm

Salvia chamelaeagnea
Half-hardy, aromatic shrub from South Africa. Dense, bushy habit. The flowers have a mid-blue upper lip and paler blue lower lip and are produced from July to October. 90cm

Salvia ‘Christine Yeo’
A hybrid between S. microphylla and S. chamaedryoides. Discovered in the Devon garden of National Collection holder Christine Yeo. Violet purple flowers from July to November. 75cm

Salvia coccinea 'Forest Fire'
As above but with deep red flowers and dark calyces.

Salvia concolor
Produces long inflorescences of deep blue flowers from July to November. Reputedly hardy to – 8c. 2m

Salvia confertiflora
A tender species with long, unbranched inflorescences of very unusual, small orange-red flowers produced late in the season. Large, dull-green leaves. 1.2m.

Salvia ‘Crème Caramel’
Cream flowers suffused with apricot contrast sublimely with caramel-coloured calyces; we raised this plant as a seedling from a yellow flowered form of S. greggii. Flowering from June to November, this is an extremely good plant with pleasantly aromatic foliage. 75cm.

Salvia ‘Dark Dancer’
A recent hybrid discovered as a chance seedling at Wintergreen in California by Victor Quintero.
The large flowers are very similar in colour to S. ‘Raspberry Royale’. 75cm

Salvia discolor AGM
Tender perennial from Peru. The upper surface of the ovate leaves is mid green, whereas the undersides, stems and calyces are white and contrast stunningly with the very dark purple, almost black flowers. 60cm

Salvia dombeyi
Tender species native to Peru and Bolivia. Has achieved almost legendary status amongst Salvia enthusiasts due to the sheer size and appearance of it’s pendulous flowers. The flowers are in fact the largest in the genus measuring up to 9cm in length, and produced from August to November. The conspicuous, shiny, dark calyces contrast wonderfully with it’s vibrant scarlet flowers. 1.5m

Salvia dorisiana
Large magenta-pink flowers in winter and spring. Tender. Very large, deliciously fruity, softly-hairy foliage. Makes a fantastic conservatory plant. 1.2m

Salvia elegans ‘Honey Melon’
Similar to the ‘Tangerine Sage’ except the foliage smells of melon. Hardy to minus 7 celcius. 50cm

Salvia farinacea ‘Victoria’ AGM
Half-hardy perennial. Purplish-blue flowers, stems and calyces. 50cm. One of the best for bold planting schemes.

Salvia forreri ‘Karen Dyson’
A lovely soft-pink version of the above raised by us.

Salvia gesneriiflora
Flowering from winter through to spring, this half-hardy species needs a conservatory or glasshouse to produce its’ display of showy red flowers. 3m !

Salvia greggii
All of the following forms are hardy, shrubby perennials. They are very drought tolerant. Good drainage and a sunny position is essential.

Salvia greggii CD&R 1148
Orange-red flowers with purple tipped calyces. Collected in Mexico by James Compton, John D’Arcy and
Martin Rix. 75cm

Salvia greggii x serpyllifolia
Deep reddish purple flowers with blackish calyces. Narrow dark green leaves. Long flowering period. Blackcurrant scented leaves. Formerly known and listed as S. greggii x lycioides. 50cm.

Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’
Deep purplish-blue flowers and almost black calyces. Late flowering. Half-hardy but survives here. 3m

Salvia x jamensis ‘James Compton’
Deep crimson-pink flowers with wine-purple calyces. 65cm.

Salvia x jamensis ‘La Luna’
Creamy yellow and buff flowers from June to November. 60cm

Salvia x jamensis 'Pat Vlasto’
Peachy-pink flowers from June to November. Pleasantly aromatic leaves. 70cm.

Salvia x jamensis 'Peter Vidgeon'
A lovely selection raised by Robin Middleton and named after a good friend of his. A very pleasing shade of lilac-pink.

Salvia leucantha AGM
White flowers emerge from conspicuously ‘furry’, pale purple calyces in late summer and autumn. Half hardy. 1.0m

Salvia leucantha ‘Purple Velvet’
Similar to the typical species except the flowers are deep purple, produced slightly earlier and in much greater quantity. Probably the best of the available forms to date. 1.0m

Savia leucantha ‘Santa Barbara’
A new dwarfer form of the species. Flower colour slightly paler than ‘Purple Velvet’. 60cm

Salvia madrensis ‘Dunham’
We are not sure if this in any way differs from the typical species, however it is a very striking plant, flowering from October until December if given the protection of a warm glasshouse or conservatory. Half-hardy / tender. 1.2 – 1.8m

Salvia ‘Maraschino’
A very free flowering S.microphylla type. Rich cherry-red flowers from June to November.

Salvia mexicana ‘Tula’
Upright, shrubby perennial of statuesque proportions. Comes into flower in October so needs protection to fully appreciate the display. Large, heart-shaped leaves and very long inflorescences of rich purplish-blue flowers with conspicuous green calyces. Half-hardy. 2.2m.

Salvia mexicana var. minor
Slightly smaller  and more hardy version of the above with shorter inflorescences of bluer flowers.

Salvia sp. 'Michoacan Blue'
An interesting and not yet fully identified species from Mexico. Produces large whorls of  royal-purple flowers from September until the frosts. Produces tuberous rhizomes which no doubt help it to survive outside in a sheltered, well-drained spot. Approximately 1 metre in height and upright in habit.

Salvia microphylla
All of the following forms are hardy, shrubby perennials. They are very drought tolerant. Good drainage and a sunny position is essential.

Salvia microphylla ‘Cerro Potosi’
Large, glowing magenta-pink flowers held well above the leaves. An excellent long-flowering form. Bushy and very tough. Recommended for exposed sites.65cm

Salvia microphylla 'Newby Hall'
A larger form with red flowers and relatively large leaves.

Salvia microphylla ‘Orange Door’
Orange-red flowers that fade to soft coral. A very good form. 75cm

Salvia microphylla ‘San Carlos Festival’
Rich crimson-pink flowers. Low, bushy habit. 60cm.

Salvia microphylla ‘Wild Watermelon’
Large magenta-pink flowers with a small white throat and dark calyces. Collected in Mexico from the same mountain as S.m. ‘Cerro Potosi’.

Salvia nemerosa ‘Rose Queen’
Spikes of rose-pink flowers from June to August. 50cm

Salvia officinalis ‘Berggarten’
Evergreen, aromatic shrub. Broad, grey-green leaves that are larger than other forms. Blue flowers. 60cm

Salvia officinalis ‘Icterina’ AGM
Evergreen, aromatic shrub. Striking, green and gold foliage. Rarely flowers. 35cm

Salvia officinalis ‘Purpurascens’ AGM
Evergreen, aromatic shrub. Reddish-purple young leaves. Pale violet-purple flowers. 50cm

Salvia officinalis ‘Tricolor’
Evergreen, aromatic shrub. Green, cream and pink variegated foliage. Seldom flowers. 35cm

Salvia patens ‘Cambridge Blue’ AGM
Pale blue flowers from July to October. 85cm.

Salvia patens ‘Chilcombe’
Lavender blue flowers. 75cm

Salvia patens ‘Guanajuato’
A tall form collected in Mexico by Compton, d’Arcy and Rix. Large deep blue flowers. Needs support. 1.3m

Salvia patens ‘White Trophy’
Pure white flowers. 75cm

Salvia 'Purple Queen'
Shrubby perennial. Deep bluish-purple flowers from May to November. Hardy and drought  tolerant. 75cm

Salvia ‘Raspberry Royale’ AGM
Rich purplish red flowers from June to November. Upright habit. 70cm

Salvia 'Red Velvet'
Large, rich red flowers and glossy, deep green leaves. Very attractive in both flower and foliage. 90cm

Salvia repens
A half-hardy South African species with upright racemes of pale lilac-blue flowers from June to August.Slowly creeping habit. Lanceolate leaves. 60cm.

Salvia reptans – from Western Texas
Very distinct from the above form. Upright habit to about a metre in height. Very long, narrow leaves. The upper lip of the flower is a good sky-blue whereas the lower lip is rather darker. Survived the winter here outside in small pots.

Salvia ringens
Forms a basal clump of pinnately divided leaves from which arise stiffly erect, glaucous-green stems of up to a metre in height. Whorls of bluish flowers from June to September. Best grown in sun on well-drained, dryish soil where it should be bordering on hardiness.

Salvia roemeriana AGM
Rich red flowers from July to October. Compact. Half-hardy. Usually grown as an annual. 30cm.

Salvia rubescens
Half-hardy species from venezuela with handsome grey-green foliage. The striking, orange-red flowers have dark purple calyces and are produced very late in the season, when flowering is triggered by short day-length. For this reason S. rubescens is best suited to conservatory or glasshouse culture. 1.5m

Salvia rypara
Bushy, herbaceous perennial from Argentina and Bolivia. Pale lavender-blue flowers with white markings in the throat and dark calyces. Should survive the winter in a sheltered spot. 75cm

Salvia sagittata
Large, light green, sagittate leaves with a pleasing thick, felty texture. Wiry inflorescences carry brilliant gentian-blue flowers well above the foliage during late summer and autumn. From Ecuador. Not hardy but well worth cherishing. 90cm

Salvia scutellarioides
Brilliant blue flowers produced sporadically between late summer and late autumn. Creeping stems and deltoid leaves. From Columbia, Ecuador and Peru. Likes some shade and moisture but will not tolerate frost.

Salvia somalensis
Half-hardy, aromatic shrub from Somalia. Erect habit. Produces lots of mid-blue flowers with white throats irregularly streaked with dark blue, from July to October. 90cm

Salvia spathacea AGM
Rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial. Large purplish-red flowers emerge from maroon-tinted bracts and calyces. The leaves release a fruity aroma when stroked. 60cm.

Salvia splendens 'Helen Dillon'
Tender perennial. A large form which produces relatively compact inflorescences of rich, deep purple flowers about 6 weeks earlier than S.s. 'Van-houttei'

Salvia splendens 'Peach'
A peachy-pink form of the above reaching 1.2m

Salvia staminea
Erect, herbaceous perennial. Branched inflorescences carry small white flowers in early summer and again later if deadheaded. Subtle yet highly desirable. Perfectly hardy here in Kent and most of the U.K. 60cm.

Salvia 'Stephanie'
Upward facing, cerise-pink flowers from May to November. A good seedling from S. 'Cherry Queen'  raised by us 5 or 6 years ago and proving to be a good doer. 75cm

Salvia subrotunda
From Brazil and Argentina and related to S. coccinea. A tender species that produces an abundance of clear red.

Salvia x sylvestris ‘Caradonna’
Spikes of rich violet-blue flowers on purple-black stems from May to July. Absolutely stunning. 60cm

Salvia x sylvestris ‘Schneehugel’
Spikes of white flowers above grey-green foliage from May to August. Compact habit.

Salvia x sylvestris ‘Tanzerin’ AGM
Slender spikes of violet-blue flowers held in reddish-purple calyces. 60cm

Salvia ‘Trelawny’
Shrubby perennial with rose-pink flowers from June to November. 65cm

Salvia ‘Trenance’
Shrubby perennial with lilac-pink flowers from June to November. 90cm

Salvia ‘Waverly’
A recent hybrid with S. leucantha thought to be one of the parents. Pale lilac-white flowers. Makes a magnificent conservatory plant. 90cm