Salvia patens 'Guanajuato'

RHS Plant Profile

gentian sage 'Guanajuato'

RHS 1999

Synonyms

Salvia 'Guanjuato'
Salvia patens 'Southern Lilac'

Herbaceous Perennial

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A tuberous perennial growing to 1.3m tall, with ovate or triangular leaves to 8cm long, and loose racemes of slightly nodding, gaping, deep blue flowers 8cm long in late summer and autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1–2 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H3

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Lamiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Salvia can be annuals, biennials, herbaceous or evergreen perennials, or shrubs. They have paired, simple or pinnately lobed, often aromatic leaves and 2-lipped flowers in whorls, forming simple or branched spikes or racemes
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in an open sunny situation in well-drained soil; mulch to help tubers overwinter or lift and store as for dahlia cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in spring or early summer or semi-ripe cuttings in late summer or autumn with bottom heat

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
City and courtyard gardens
Mediterranean climate plants
Patio and container plants
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

Cut back spent flower spikes to prolong flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails, capsid bug, rosemary beetle and leafhoppers

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), powdery mildews, verticillium wilt and foot and root rots