I've come across two salvias which I rather like, Salvia nemorosa Caradonna and S. n. Friesland. I can't decide which to go for. I was just wondering if anyone has had experience of growing either to help me choose. Thanks.
Pete, I grow lots of Salvias including Caradonna, but am gradually replacing it with the longer-flowering Mainacht. Caradonna is lovely, but it tends to give a really good, but short first flowering, then very scanty re-bloom, even after regular deadheading. A good purple, but it can be quite dull in low light, needs good sunlight and other bright colours around it, I would say.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
I agree with nollie, had a few years of caradona, on its day it looks great, but it's blooming period is short and can look too dark. My favourite salvia is also maynight, another called dear anja looks good in my garden, but may be too strange an electric blue for some. Salvia amethist looked good for me last year, it was a long bloomer compared to its close relative caradona. I can't comment yet on East Friesland, but I just planted 6 today, my worry with it is that they may also be too dark for my taste. Sorry i didn't really answer your question, but I quickly fell out of love with caradona.
Salvia Caradonna and Amethyst, giving a 2-tone 'Monet' effect. The author of these instagram posts thought the mass of spent flowerheads were ugly after flowering... I'm not sure I agree, they still have a good 'shape'
I have seen Salvia farinacea in one of my friend's garden. She had lighter coloured variants and they flower for a long period, may be around 3-4 months.
Oxford. The City of Dreaming Spires.
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils (roses). Taking a bit of liberty with Wordsworth
Salvia farinacea is very long flowering but it seems like more of a 'bedding plant' to me. Salvia verticillata 'Purple Rain' goes on for a long time and reflowers dependably after being cut back (unlike Caradonna in my experience).
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As true of our lives as with flowers.
I'm impressed with Mainacht though-
Salvia farinacea I grew from seed. It didn't overwinter.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.