Salvia 'Amistad' is a remarkable perennial plant that offers an abundance of stunning, larger-than-average purple flowers from spring to autumn. Its exquisite blooms are enhanced by the striking near-black calyces and supporting stems. This variety is highly attractive to bees, adding a delightful buzz to your garden. With a height and spread of 1.2m x 50cm, it thrives in full sun or light shade.
This versatile plant thrives in mixed or herbaceous borders and is a perfect companion for underplanting roses, as it is known to deter mildew and black spot. It also adds a touch of elegance to tropical planting schemes, complementing dahlias, bananas, and cannas. Salvia 'Amistad' is well-suited for coastal and dry gardens and can even be grown in pots.
One of the key highlights of Salvia 'Amistad' is its prolific display of large, spiky flowers, which grace ornamental borders from summer through to autumn. The deep purple petals, accompanied by almost-black calyces and stems, create a mesmerizing visual effect. The velvety texture of the petals adds to its appeal, making it an excellent choice for cut flowers. Additionally, this variety is highly favored by bees.
To ensure optimal growth, plant Salvia 'Amistad' in a sunny and sheltered location with well-drained soil. Regular deadheading will encourage continuous flowering until mid-autumn. Annual mulching with well-rotted manure or garden compost is recommended. In autumn, avoid cutting back the flower stems and instead allow them to provide protection to the rootball and emerging shoots during winter. Pruning should only be done after new growth appears in spring. For colder regions, extra winter protection may be necessary.
Salvia 'Amistad' is a bushy, upright perennial with aromatic, slightly downy, corrugated bright green leaves that taper to pointed ends. Its profusion of deep purple tubular flowers with black calyces grace the garden from early summer until the first frosts, making it an enchanting addition to any landscape.