A collection of three unusual & very pretty Salvias, the ' Lips' series look incredible in your patio pot or in a sunny border! Their bright, two-tone flowers will light up your garden from early summer to the first frosts in October, in a wonderful 5-month display. As a bonus, the leaves are lightly scented too which only adds to the appeal of this charming plant. Producing an abundance of eye-catching, bicoloured (or sometimes solid) flowers in shades of red through to violet throughout the summer, these salvias are fully winter hardy & will die back underground in the autumn only to burst into life again with fresh new growth each spring. In cooler summers, you will get whiter flowers, & in hot ones you will get a lot more colour. These Salvias are very easy to care for & flower prolifically with minimal care perfect for beginners! Supplied as 12 x plug plants, 4 of 3 varieties growing to a height of 1 m (3 ft) & spread of 75 cm (2½ ft), including: Salvia ' Hot Lips'
- Amazing two-tone half red & half white summer long blooms. Salvia ' Amethyst Lips'
- Gorgeous violet & white flowers throughout the summer. Salvia ' Cherry Lips'
- Fragrant foliage with beautiful pink & white two-tone blooms. Care Planting Advice for Salvia: Salvias grow best in well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade, avoid excessively exposed areas & waterlogged soils. Before planting, prepare the soil by digging over & removing any weeds. Incorporate some well-rotted manure to enrich the soil if necessary. When planting a number of perennials, arrange them on the surface so you can see how they will look before planting. Individually knock out each plant from its container. Look at the roots
- if they are circling around the compost, it is best to tease them out. To do this, push your fingers into the rootball along the bottom edge & pull. Do this in a couple of places. This should encourage the roots to spread into the surrounding soil. Next use a trowel or spade to create a hole just deep & wide enough to set in the rootball. The aim is to bury just the roots, leaving the bases of the stems (when in growth in summer) or the shoots (in spring) above ground. Firm back around the soil, using your hand for small clumps & your heel on larger areas. Water in well to settle the soil & prevent desiccation. Aftercare advice for your salvias: Feed & water regularly until plants are fully established. Although perennial, this salvia will require some winter protection outdoors in the form of a straw mulch & if growing it in containers, move to a cold greenhouse or conservatory to prevent the cold from penetrating to the roots. In spring, apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure around the base of the plant Pruning Advice for Salvia: Prune lightly in late spring when new growth appears to remove dead stems & to maintain a bushy shape. Contents 40 x Plants