A plant such as salvia (Salvia) is also called sage, and it belongs to the genus of perennial shrubs and herbaceous plants that are part of the labiate or lamb family. In the wild, they can be found in temperate as well as tropical areas in any part of the world with the exception of Australia. The name of such a plant comes from the Latin word "salvus" in translation "to be healthy." The thing is that there are types of salvia, the medicinal properties of which have been known for a very long time. For example, a broth of sage is able to get rid of the flux in the shortest possible time, if they systematically rinse the mouth. There are almost 900 species of such a plant, and they are all photophilous. Salvia is usually called those species that are used for decorative purposes. And the species used for medicinal purposes and in the form of a spicy herb are called sage. But at the same time, do not forget that salvia is the same sage, only it is grown solely for decorative purposes. They learned about medicinal sage during the Roman Empire, but decorative salvia appeared in European countries only in the 18th century during the era of the horticultural boom. Separately, there is such a plant as salvia divinorum, which is called narcotic sage or "sage of the diviner". Its leaf plates contain salvinorin, which is a psychoactive hallucinogen. However, below we will talk about salvia, which is a beautiful shrub plant.
Content
Features of salvia
Such a rhizome plant is essentially a perennial. However, in the middle latitudes, it is cultivated as one-year or two-year. There are species that can quite successfully overwinter in the open field, but if the winter is too frosty and the snow cover is scarce, the flower will freeze. Ascending or erect tetrahedral shoots can be up to 1.2 meters high. Most often, the leaf plates are solid, but sometimes they are pinnately dissected. They are petiolate and oppositely located, their front side is dark green in color, and the back side is whitish. At the ends of the shoots are complex whorled inflorescences, spike-shaped or paniculate, and the length of which can reach from 15 to 20 centimeters. They are made up of small flowers.The bracts, which have a bright color (white, purple, pink or lilac), look especially impressive. The fruit of this plant contains 4 nuts. The seeds ripen 4 weeks after the plant blooms. They retain good germination for 5 years.
Growing salvia from seeds
What time are the seeds sown
Salvia, which is an annual or biennial, is grown from seeds. If the plant is perennial, then it can be propagated both by seeds and cuttings or by dividing the rhizome. Seed can be grown both in seedling and non-seedling methods. If you decide to resort to a seedless cultivation method, then sowing can be done in open ground in the spring or before winter. However, it should be borne in mind that the type of brilliant Salvia, or brilliant Salvia (Salvia splendens) can be grown exclusively by seedlings. It must be remembered that in a specialty store you can buy simple seeds as well as granules. In addition to seeds, the granules contain substances that make the seedlings more resistant and strong, but the germination of granules takes longer than a simple seed. It is recommended to sow seeds for seedlings from the second half of February to the first days of March.
Salvia seedlings
Fill the container with moist, loose soil. Seeds or granules must be spread over its surface. They can be left like this or sprinkled with a two-millimeter layer of soil. Transfer the container to a warm (approximately 25 degrees) place. Watering can be done through a pallet or using a spray bottle. In order to keep the substrate moist for a long time, cover the container with a paper sheet. The first seedlings can be seen in 2–4 weeks. In order for the planted plants to take root quickly, they need a powerful root system. In this regard, the senses must be dived 2 times. The first pick is made when the plants grow 2 or 3 true leaf plates. They are transplanted into a new box, while the distance between the seedlings should be equal to 5 centimeters, they need to be buried in the ground by a cotyledon leaf. 20 days after the picking, the plant should be transplanted a second time into individual pots, the diameter of which should be about 10-12 centimeters. After the appearance of a 3 or 4 real leaf, it is necessary to pinch so that the salvia is more bushy. Hardening of plants can begin with the onset of April. To do this, at night it is necessary to maintain an air temperature of about 10 degrees.
Planting salvia in open ground
When do you land in open ground?
For such a plant, a sandy light soil is suitable, which should pass water well, be enriched with humus and lime. Choose a well-lit area as it is a light-loving plant. However, salvia sticky is suitable for growing in a shaded area. Planting in open soil can be done after there is no frost at night. This time most often falls on the first days of June.
Landing rules
Planting salvia is very easy, especially if the seedlings are strong and seasoned. Landing holes should be prepared at a distance of 25-30 centimeters from each other. In each of them you need to pour a handful of humus, and then transfer plants from pots into them.
Care features
Growing
You need to take care of this flower in the same way as for most of the others. It must be weeded, watered, fed in a timely manner, and also loosened the soil surface. Watering should be done only when the soil is completely dry and always in the evening. Remember that a large amount of water should not be poured, because if the liquid stagnates in the soil, the root system of salvia can easily rot. After the water is absorbed into the soil, its surface must be loosened, at the same time weeds must be removed. During the season, this plant must be fed with a complex mineral fertilizer at least 2 times.It is necessary to feed the plants with a weak nutrient solution while they are still in the house in the boxes. The second time this procedure is carried out during budding.
It is somewhat more difficult to care for a perennial salvia than for a one or a biennial, which are sown with seeds before winter. The point is that these plants need formative pruning. It will protect the shoots from stretching and exposing, and the plant will become more bushy, as young stems will actively begin to grow. At the end of flowering, do not forget to remove all wilted flowers from the salvia. Before wintering or at the beginning of the next period of intensive growth, the bush will need to be trimmed. To do this, you need to remove the old stems, which are lignified, so that only a few centimeters of them with buds, as well as young greens, remain.
Diseases and pests
This plant has resistance to almost all types of diseases. However, such harmful insects as thrips, ticks, whiteflies, aphids, as well as snails and slugs, which eat salvia leaves, can settle on it.
You can get rid of slugs and snails by collecting them with your hands. To do this, you can spread pieces of slate or rags between the plants, and then systematically collect the pests hiding under cover in the daytime. You can also make traps. To do this, on the site you need to put several saucers filled with fruit juice or beer. Slugs, like snails, love these drinks and slide down, drawn by their aroma, you just have to collect them. Make special umbrellas that can protect the saucers from rain and debris.
To kill other harmful insects, you will need an appropriate insecticide.
Salvia after flowering
The beginning of flowering of such a plant falls on June, and when it ends, it directly depends on the species (sometimes only with the onset of the first frost). There are species that bloom twice a year. For example, when the flowering of forest salvia is over, it is recommended to completely cut off its shoots, in which case at the end of the summer period the bush will bloom again, especially if fertilizers are applied to the soil. After such a perennial plant has finished blooming completely, it must be cut off, and then sprinkled with a layer of mulch (garden compost) on the surface of the soil, pay special attention to the growth points. In this case, the salvia will be prepared even for severe winter frosts. For greater reliability, it is still recommended to cover young bushes with dried leaves or spruce branches.
The main types and varieties with photos and names
All types of salvia are divided into 3 groups according to biological characteristics, as well as agrotechnical characteristics.
First group
The first group includes species belonging to the subtropics of America. In mid-latitudes, they are grown as annuals. They need constantly moist soil and warmth. Even a slight frost can kill the plant.
Salvia brilliant, or brilliant (Salvia splendens)
The height of a compact bush can vary from 20 to 80 centimeters. It has very dense foliage. Opposite petiolate whole leaf plates are ovoid. Their front side is painted in dark green, and the back side is painted in pale green. Large flowers are irregular in shape and have a double perianth. They are whorly collected from 2 to 6 flowers in inflorescences in the form of a brush, 14 to 25 centimeters long. Typically, the corolla and calyx are deep red, but purple, white, and pink can be found. Flowering is observed from the beginning of the summer period until the first frost.
Salvia sparkling white is a species of this plant. Its difference from rich red is that its inflorescences are more liquid and the calyx looks creamy against the background of a snow-white bracts.
And in salvia, pink inflorescences are not so long in comparison with red ones. The calyx and corolla have the same pink color, but the corolla has a velvety surface.
Sparkling Salvia Violet is a very showy plant. The fact is that the rich purple color is multiplied by dense pubescence.
The most popular varieties are Red Arrows, Fire Star, Sahara, Salvator.
Salvia bright red (Salvia coccinea)
A branching bush with straight shoots in height can reach from 50 to 70 centimeters. There is dense pubescence on the surface. Egg-shaped petiolate leaf plates are finely serrated along the edge. Their front side is naked, and pubescence is on the seamy surface. The length of the loose inflorescence varies from 15 to 30 centimeters. They have whorled flowers with a long tube and a scarlet-red corolla. Flowering begins in July and ends with the onset of the first frost. Popular varieties: "Lady in Red" - the bush reaches a height of 40 centimeters, the color of the flowers is deep red; "Sherry Blossom" - a bush of this early variety has a height of about 40 centimeters, and the flowers are pink.
Mealy salvia (Salvia farinacea)
Such an unpretentious plant is long-flowering. The bush has a pyramidal appearance and reaches a height of 60 to 90 centimeters. Petiolate, whole-edged ovate-oblong leaf plates have pubescent veins. Quite long inflorescences (15–20 centimeters) are located on rather high peduncles. They include from 5 to 28 flowers of two centimeters in length. Most often the corolla is colored dark blue, but white is also found. Flowering begins in the second half of August and ends in late autumn. Popular varieties: "Anshuld" - flowers have a whitish-silver color; "Strata" - there are blue flowers on a compact bush; "Victoria" - the variety blooms very profusely, the flowers are dark blue.
Second group
The second group includes Mediterranean species. They are not afraid of drought and they are more frost-resistant. Loose soil is ideal for them, they need mineral fertilizers.
Salvia green, or variegated (Salvia viridis)
Among the representatives of this species, only the Horminum variety is decorative. Her bracts are painted in a rich color. The bush of this annual reaches a height of 40-60 centimeters. There are a large number of straight branching shoots, on the surface of which there is a glandular fluff. There is pubescence on the surface of the elliptical-oblong petiole leaf plates. The length of simple inflorescences varies from 18 to 30 centimeters. They include false whorls with 4–6 flowers, the corolla of which is pink. But the bracts, which have a rich purple or pink color, are striking. Popular varieties: "White Swan" - white flowers, and bracts - purple or pink; "Oxford Blue" - violet-blue bracts; "Pink Sandy" - pink bracts.
Salvia verticillata (Salvia verticillata)
The bush has ascending or straight shoots with dense pubescence and a height of 35 to 40 centimeters. Unusually shaped leaf plates are long-petiolate and pubescent. The flowers are collected in dense whorls of 5-30 pieces and have a corolla of blue-lilac color. Variety "Purple Rain" is distinguished by flowers with purple cups and a corolla of dark purple color.
Dandelion-leaved salvia (Salvia taraxacifolia)
Such a herbaceous plant has a root leaf rosette. Slightly branching straight shoots. Any part of this plant has a pleasant smell. Cirro-dissected leaf blades have an irregularly serrated edge. Their front side is naked, and the seamy side is pubescent. The length of simple inflorescences can reach 28 centimeters. They include whorls with several flowers, the corolla of which is colored light pink, and the throat is light green with purple dots.
Salvia jurisicii
It also belongs to this group, but gardeners rarely grow it.
Third group
The composition includes frost-resistant species.These are the species that grow in the temperate climate of the Old World, and also include the Ethiopian Salvia. These plants are distinguished by the fact that they bloom very luxuriantly from the second year of life. They are not capricious, shade-tolerant and frost-resistant. They need to be sheltered only when there is a meager snow cover in winter.
Salvia oak, or forest (Salvia nemorosa, Salvia sylvestris)
The height of the bushes reaches 60 centimeters, there is pubescence on the surface of the branchy shoots. The sessile leaf plates located in the upper part are smaller than the lower petiolar ones. The inflorescences have several pairs of lateral branches. They include false whorls, and each has 2 to 6 small flowers. Corolla color is violet-blue. There are rather large purple bracts that are conspicuous. Flowering begins in the last days of June and lasts until the beginning of the autumn period. Popular varieties: dark lavender "Plumosa", blue-violet "Meinacht", violet-pink "Amethyst".
Salvia glutinosa
Feels good in mid-latitudes. The height of a large bush can reach 0.9 meters. There are many straight, pubescent-glandular shoots. Long-petiolized large serrated leaf plates have a triangular-ovoid shape and are colored greenish-yellow. Loose inflorescences consist of flowers in whorls. Corolla is pale yellow. Flowering lasts from late summer to late autumn.
Salvia lush (Salvia x superba)
The height of the bush is about 60 centimeters. Long bloom. The inflorescences are spike-shaped. Popular varieties: "Snow Hill" - white flowers; dwarf varieties: "Rose Queen" - pink and blue-lavender "Blue Queen".
This group also includes meadow salvia (Salvia pratensis) and Ethiopian salvia (Salvia aethiopis).
