Salvia, hardy trial results 2022–2024
Objectives and purpose of the trial
A vibrant showcase of hardy salvias at RHS Wisley in June 2023
Summer sunshine shines down on the trial beds in 2024
What is an RHS Award of Garden Merit?
The AGM is intended to help gardeners choose plants that are likely to perform in their gardens, and is only awarded to plants that are:
- Excellent for ordinary use in appropriate conditions
- Available
- Good constitution
- Essentially stable in form and colour
- Reasonably resistant to pests and diseases
Judging criteria
The following factors were all taken into consideration as part of the judging of the trial:
- Overall appearance and impact
- Flower form and colour
- Overall habit
- Pest and weather resistance
- Leaf quality
- Length of flowering and re-flowering
Hardy Salvia AGM winners
Salvia × sylvestris 'A Little Bit'PBR
wood sage 'A Little Bit'
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0.1–0.5 metres
Salvia × sylvestris 'A Little Bit'PBR
wood sage 'A Little Bit'
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0.1–0.5 metres
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A lot of these salvias grow in very poor soils in their native habitats, but in the UK we often have richer soil. In these conditions, salvias often have a peak of flowering then tail off – when this happens, you should cut them back, give them a feed and water, and they will come back for a second, if slightly smaller, flush.
Why the AGM was awarded
New AGM winners with forum comments and hardiness ratings
Reconfirmed AGMs with forum comments and hardiness ratings
Judges visit RHS Wisley in June 2024 to check on the salvias
Enthusiastic judges gather to assess salvias in September 2024
AGMs rescinded
Plants and location
What was planted?
Where was it planted?
The young hardy salvias were planted into the dedicated trial beds of the RHS Wisley Trials Garden, setting the stage for a season of flowering displays. Here are some considerations for planting out hardy salvias:
- Salvias grow best in full sun, but good drainage is the key to getting them to last year after year
- They prefer a light, well-drained soil such as chalk, sand or loam
- Hardy salvias are best planted in spring, but can also be planted in autumn
- Add plenty of organic matter to heavier soils, or grow them in pots
- Pollinators such as bees and butterflies love their nectar, yet their strongly scented leaves ward off deer and rabbits
- Prune back after flowering for a second flush
Cultivation
Planting process
Planting began in early May 2022 – most entries were set out in a staggered pattern, with plants spaced 1m between entries and 45cm between individual plants – there were three plants per entry. Once planted, the beds were mulched with a 3in layer of pine chips and thoroughly watered in. Remaining entries were planted during the first week of July 2022.
In late winter of both 2022 and 2023, the team cut back old growth using secateurs, trimming just above the new shoots to promote healthy spring emergence.
From summer 2023, three different pruning methods were trialled to encourage prolonged flowering from early summer through to autumn. Once flowering had finished for a given entry, the front plant was sheared back to the base of the flowering stems. The middle plant was selectively deadheaded, while the rear plant was left untouched, retaining its flowered stems.
In summer 2024, the front two plants of each entry were again sheared after flowering, leaving the rear plant unpruned. The forum observed that nearly all entries responded well to this method, producing a strong second flush of blooms later in the season.
How plant health was managed
How to grow salvias
Explore all the information you need to know to grow and care for salvias in your garden
Discoveries
2024 | Stand out orange bloom
Salvia stolonifera wowed the judges with its hot tangerine colour – a rarity for a fully hardy salvia. “To have an orange salvia that comes back after winter is marvellous. It’s an extraordinary plant,” says trial judge and member of the RHS Herbaceous Plant Expert Group Marina Christopher, who grows a range of salvias on her nursery Phoenix Perennial Plants in Hampshire.
Who was involved?
Judges of the trial
The 2022–2024 hardy salvia judges included: Cathy Rollinson (Chair, RHS Herbaceous Plant Expert Group), Souren Ala (Gardener, writer and editor), Marina Christopher (Nursery owner, Phoenix Perennial Plants), David Foreman (Vice Chair, RHS Herbaceous Plant Expert Group), Andrew Humphris (Head Gardener, Parham Park), Lynsey Pink (Salvia specialist), Frances Rasch (RHS Herbaceous Plant Expert Group member), Sue Roe (RHS Herbaceous Plant Expert Group member), Libby Russell (Garden designer, RHS Herbaceous Plant Expert Group member) and Rosie Yeomans (Lecturer, broadcaster and RHS Herbaceous Plant Expert Group member).
Suppliers to the trial
List of plants in the trial
View all the hardy salvias trialled at RHS Wisley
Handy tools and information
- Full article - Filter for AGM plants and refine by colour, height and season of interest
Find an AGM plant online
Filter for AGM plants and refine by colour, height and season of interest - Full article - Explore advice and helpful tips from our resident experts
Gardening advice
Explore advice and helpful tips from our resident experts - Full article - Check how hardy plants are using the RHS hardiness ratings system
Hardiness ratings
Check how hardy plants are using the RHS hardiness ratings system - Full article - A new app packed with gardening know-how at your fingertips
RHS Grow app
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Get in touch
For more information on our RHS Plant Trials or to access older trial reports, please get in touch with our team via email at [email protected].
Get involved
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