Salvia dolichantha is my favourite hardy Salvia in my zone 8 garden. Despite coming through anything that the winter throws at it it can be short lived but this Chinese species is worth the effort. It only grows to about 80cm tall but it is a real eye-catcher..................




Does anyone else grow this species?

Yes, it is gorgeous species. It is frequently muddled with Salvia przewalskii. I bought a stunning "dolichantha" a few years ago, 6 ft tall, with violet flowers. Chinese Salvias can be very promiscuous and often hybridise.

Monty72 said:Yes, it is gorgeous species. It is frequently muddled with Salvia przewalskii. I bought a stunning "dolichantha" a few years ago, 6 ft tall, with violet flowers. Chinese Salvias can be very promiscuous and often hybridise.

I have a few more coming along from my own seed just to see what I get. Here's another one that I grew from the same batch of seed that produced the plant in my earlier photos.............


I've yet to grow Salvia przewalskii. Is it as hardy?

Wow, that looks marvellous. Przewalskii totally hardy, as long as not waterlogged.

Did the clevelandii seeds germinate? This can be a wee bit difficult!

Monty72 said:Wow, that looks marvellous. Przewalskii totally hardy, as long as not waterlogged.

Did the clevelandii seeds germinate? This can be a wee bit difficult!

See, I prefer the first one. I'm rather intrigued as to what will come of my own seed though because (as you know) I have a few Salvia. S.forrskoallii (sic?) was growing quite close as was S.glutinosa.

I haven't started S.clevelandii yet but I know that it'll be a booger to get to bloom where I am!

@longk,

Here's the database link to add your beautiful pics.

Salvia (Salvia dolichantha)

Lovely color and form.

Here's the first of my latest batch to bloom.............
Salvia dolichantha by longk48, on Flickr

My favourite so far!

Beautiful flowers and color.

The second of the latest batch to bloom..............
Salvia dolichantha by longk48, on Flickr

Salvia dolichantha by longk48, on Flickr

@longk

Beautiful flowers.

Marilyn said:@longk

Beautiful flowers.

It's a shame that the same cannot be said of the third one to bloom................
Salvia x dolichantha by longk48, on Flickr

I suspect some hybridisation has occured with S.forrskoallii as the leaves are also very big to compliment the small and unappealing blooms! Not a keeper.

Sorry to hear that @longk.

Marilyn said:Sorry to hear that @longk.

It happens, especially with the Chinese species.
If it didn't happen then Wendys Wish and a lot of other popular Salvia wouldn't have come about.

longk said:
It's a shame that the same cannot be said of the third one to bloom................
Salvia x dolichantha by longk48, on Flickr

I suspect some hybridisation has occured with S.forrskoallii as the leaves are also very big to compliment the small and unappealing blooms! Not a keeper.

I'm not sure what happened to the first blooms on that plant as the subsequent blooms came out rather nice and true to type............
Salvia dolichantha by longk48, on Flickr

Salvia dolichantha by longk48, on Flickr

I'm glad that I waited before executing it now!

Very beautiful flowers. I'm glad you waited too.