Salvia splendens

Chris and I feel unable yet to visit a garden centre so when it came to ordering bedding plants we were not exactly spoilt for choice. The result is that we have just planted 18 Salvia splendens in tubs. Salvias are a genus within the Lamiaceae, a huge family which includes hyssop, marjoram, betony and dead-nettles. It is the dead-nettles, Lamium species, which give the family its name.


We grow lavender, thymes, rosemary, Iranian Wood Sage (Teucrium hircanicum) and the Tasmanian Mint Bush, Prostanthera cuneata. The word 'cuneate' means, of course,  wedge-shaped, but I am not sure in this case which part of the plant is referred to. Incidentally in Tasmania the plant appears to be extinct but fortunately it also occurs in the south-eastern part of Australia.


The leaves of Prostanthera cuneata have a mint-like odour.

Our garden on Stefen Hill, Daventry. 25 May, 2020

The flowers of all these plants are eagerly sought by various bees, with the thymes currently the most popular. The lavender is not yet flowering but is often the most popular of all.

I am happy to allow thyme to sprawl across the paths.

Our garden, 25 May, 2020.

All the plants we grow are woody or at least sub-shrubby (suffruticose), whereas dead nettles and their close relatives are purely herbaceous.

A closer look at our Prostanthera cuneata.

So what of the bedding salvia we have just planted? Salvia splendens is native to Brazil and unsurprisingly is tender and unable to survive our British winters outdoors.

I am hoping that this species will also attract bees but there are problems and I have never seen one of these scarlet 'bedders' receive an insect visitor. The problems begin with the colour. Bees can detect orange or yellow colours and can detect some reddish wavelengths, but they seem unable to detect bright scarlets or vermilions. However it is worth remembering that bees can detect 'colours' in the ultra-violet range and regularly visit scarlet poppies where they collect the pollen (these poppies have no nectar).

Our salvias are not yet fully open. 25 May, 2020

Another problem lies in the tubular shape of the flowers. Rotund bumblebees appear to find it difficult to squeeze in far enough to reach the nectar. Perhaps the more svelte honey bees will manage.


I'll be watching these salvias throughout the summer.