It is with a heavy heart that we share news of the passing of our friend Richard Dufresne (pronounced Doofrane), 75, who passed away this month at his home in Candor, North Carolina. Rich was truly a one of a kind…a 1972 graduate of Carnegie Melon with a PhD in chemistry. After graduation, Rich did […]
The Salvia Doctor has left the Greenhouse Read More »
Salvia leucantha has had quite a run in the garden this fall…we do love this plant. Dry soils in winter are the key to overwintering it in the ground in marginal climates like here in Zone 7b.
Salvia leucantha in full splendor Read More »
We’ve trialed many variegated forms of the lovely fall-flowering Salvia leucantha, and the only one we felt was good enough to share is Salvia leucantha ‘Eder’, which we’re pleased to offer this summer/fall for the first time. Where it isn’t winter hardy, it can easily be kept indoors in a cool room or porch. I
Some sage advice…check out these great newly available salvias! Read More »
Salvia ‘Phyllis Fancy’ is simply stunning in the garden now. This giant can reach 6′ tall x 10′ wide in one season…a great way to impress the neighbors. This wonderful salvia thrives despite moist soil and single digit F winter temperatures. Salvia leucantha is one of the parents of Salvia ‘Phyllis Fancy’. This is the
Two new salvias that stood out in side by side trials with industry standards are these new 2015 introductions. The first is Salvia x sylvestris ‘Violet Riot’. This full sun salvia has an incredible number of flowers and a longer flowering period compared to everything else on the market. Hardiness is at least, Zone 4a
New plants for 2015 – Salvias Read More »
The garden is ablaze with perennial salvias now, including several with blue or near blue flowers. Above is Salvia ‘Amistad’…a flowering machine that continues at the same pace all summer. Unlike Salvia guaranitca, Salvia ‘Amistad’ does not spread via rhizomes, although it does form a wide clump. and here is Salvia guaranitica ‘Argentina Skies‘…a
An explosion of perennial salvias Read More »
We’ve reached the end of a rather warm week here in NC, but recent rains have given us a nice respite, so I’ll be heading out into the garden today for some planting time. There’s lots going on now including a splendid display from the woody salvias. Here a new photo of Salvia ‘Hot Lips’…a
Our clump of Salvia ‘Amistad‘ in the garden is finally starting to flower. This was a real test winter for this new introduction, and only 1 of our 4 garden clumps survived the winter, so we’ve changed our preliminary hardiness rating from 7b-10, guessing to Zone 8a. We’re obviously disappointed, but we’ll continue to grow
I just snapped this photo of the lovely Salvia ‘Madeline‘…a very cool bicolor-flowered salvia. Salvia ‘Madeline’ is very easy to grow in a sunny, well-drained site.
Salvia ‘Madeline’ is in the house Read More »
We’ve been in love with the fall-flowering, woodland Salvia glabrescens for over a decade, but wanted to share photos of a new clone we’ve been trialing from our friends at Issima Nursery. In three years, Salvia glabrescens ‘Dark Heart’ has formed a 2′ tall x 7′ wide clump, that’s in full flower this week (mid-October).
Dark Hearts – a Sage you’d be Wise to Grow Read More »
