Best salvias for pots collection
salvia collection
This collection brings together three compact, free-flowering perennials that deliver vibrant colour across a long season. Each salvia offers strong, upright growth and produces abundant flower spikes that are highly attractive to pollinators. With shades ranging from rich pink-red through to intense blue and soft lavender-blue, they provide excellent contrast in borders, pots, or window boxes.
All are drought-tolerant once established, easy to maintain, and chosen for their resilience and ability to flower continuously from summer into autumn.
All are drought-tolerant once established, easy to maintain, and chosen for their resilience and ability to flower continuously from summer into autumn.
How to care for Best salvias for pots salvia collection:
When planting, incorporate compost to improve drainage and fertility, spacing plants 30-45cm (12-18in) apart and watering thoroughly.
To keep the plants blooming throughout the season, promptly remove flower spikes as soon as they begin to fade - this deadheading encourages the plant to produce more flowers rather than putting energy into seed production.
In early spring, apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure around the base of the plants to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and provide essential nutrients as it breaks down. Ensure the mulch is spread evenly, but keep it away from the stems to prevent rot. A supplementary granular fertiliser (such as the mineral based Growmore) is advised in the early part of the season, once the plants begin to sprout.
Regular watering, particularly in dry spells, will help maintain healthy growth, but be careful not to waterlog the soil, as these salvias prefer well-drained conditions.
Finally, consider providing some protection in exposed or colder regions of the UK by covering with a double layer of horticultural fleece or dry mulch (bark chippings/ composted pine needles) to insulate the roots, or by using a cloche to protect the plants against hard frosts.
To keep the plants blooming throughout the season, promptly remove flower spikes as soon as they begin to fade - this deadheading encourages the plant to produce more flowers rather than putting energy into seed production.
In early spring, apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure around the base of the plants to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and provide essential nutrients as it breaks down. Ensure the mulch is spread evenly, but keep it away from the stems to prevent rot. A supplementary granular fertiliser (such as the mineral based Growmore) is advised in the early part of the season, once the plants begin to sprout.
Regular watering, particularly in dry spells, will help maintain healthy growth, but be careful not to waterlog the soil, as these salvias prefer well-drained conditions.
Finally, consider providing some protection in exposed or colder regions of the UK by covering with a double layer of horticultural fleece or dry mulch (bark chippings/ composted pine needles) to insulate the roots, or by using a cloche to protect the plants against hard frosts.
What's included:
Each collection contains 1 of each of the following cultivated varieties, all supplied in a 9cm nursery pot.
Salvia 'Strawberry Lake': Rich magenta-pink-red flowers on strong, upright stems provide long-lasting colour from summer into autumn, making this cultivated variety ideal for pots, borders, and window boxes. Compact and bushy in habit, plants stay manageable in size while still producing an impressive display of blooms. Grows to 45cm.
Salvia 'Lake Blueberry': A robust, drought-tolerant cultivar that produces an abundance of intense blue flower spikes from early spring through late autumn, making it a magnet for bees and butterflies. This free-flowering salvia features strong branching and solid, well-packed flower spikes, making it an excellent choice for gardeners seeking a resilient plant that thrives in heat and dry conditions once established. Grows to 65cm.
Salvia 'Lake Como': 'Lake Como' bears sturdy branching well-filled flower spikes, attracting both bees and butterflies with its resilient and abundant lavender-blue blooms. Grows to 45cm.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Position:
Full sun
Rate of growth:
Fast-growing
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil, or peat-free general purpose compost
Hardiness:
Borderline hardy (will need protection in winter in colder areas)
-
This perennial dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.
