Salvia viridis
My new discovery of 2021!
At first, its actual flowers are almost inconspicuous, tiny and bright, but then the upper leaves open in dark purple, finely veined, and bloom and bloom and bloom some more.
(Fun fact: as I write this, it's the 1st of December. We've already had snow, we've already had frost and yet it's still blossoming. It's unstoppable, just like the "Snapdragon").
It's happy in flower beds (a wonderful companion to roses!) and in pots, lasts for a long time in a vase and looks beautiful when dried.
When it feels at home, it does like to spread out, though. Wild shrub character, ideal for the natural garden. Great plant for beginners and does not need fertiliser.
And while insects love it, snails consistently avoid it.
Height: approx. 30cm (12") to 60cm (24")
Hardiness: Annual
Where: Loves sun but also does well in partial shade.
When: From March inside, from end of April outside.
Spacing: 30cm (12")
Harvesting/Flowering: June to October, November and even in December...
A paradise for insects.
Photo: Janina Laszlo
