New plants: Salvia Pink Amistad
One of our all-time favourite salvias is now available in a brand new colour
Since its introduction over 10 years ago, and especially since receiving the Award of Garden Merit in 2016, Salvia ‘Amistad’ has become one of our most popular salvias, selling more than four million plants around the world.
Quickly reaching 1.2m (4ft) in height, this long-blooming
Now we can enjoy the qualities of ‘Amistad’ in a brand new colourway: enter the closely related Salvia Pink Amistad, in a gorgeous pastel pink shade. Pink Amistad was placed third in the 2022 Chelsea Flower Show Plant Of The Year awards.
Amazing architectural flowers
Salvia Pink Amistad ('Arggr17-011') has upright stems with long spikes of two-lipped pink flowers, opening from chocolate-brown buds. It’s hardier than the original ‘Amistad’, but still needs protection from severe frosts. More compact than its purple cousin and loved by bees, this exciting newPeter Freeman, New Product Development Manager at Thomson & Morgan, who introduced Pink Amistad last year, is a big fan. “I have grown the wonderful blue Salvia ‘Amistad’ for many years. It is a top seller and Pink Amistad looks just as good. I love seeing bees disappearing into its amazing architectural flowers.”
Argentinian origins
John Zako of Middleton Nurseries in Staffordshire told the Plant of The Year assessors at last year’s Chelsea Flower Show about Salvia Pink Amistad.“This salvia was bred by Rolando Uria from Argentina, a well-known salvia plantsman who has brought several varieties to the market, including the favourite ‘Amistad’,” he said.
“Breeding commenced in 2017 with a controlled cross, and selection was made in 2018. The female parent was S. guaranitica and the male parent was S. orbignaei. Its hardiness is between H4 and H3, so around -5 to -7C; slightly hardier than ‘Amistad’. It grows in sun or part shade, and its flowering period is from late spring well into autumn.”
