Salvia 'African Sky'

About

Salvia 'African Sky' is a cultivated Salvia in the Lamiaceae (mint) family, notable for its summer flowering run. It reliably produces blooms through June to September. As a named garden selection, it behaves as a Salvia cultivar rather than a wild species. Expect a plant valued primarily for its season-long floral display.

About the genus

Salvia is the largest genus of plants in the sage family Lamiaceae, with just under 1,000 species of shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and annuals. Within the Lamiaceae, Salvia is part of the tribe Mentheae within the subfamily Nepetoideae. One of several genera commonly referred to as sage, it includes two widely used herbs, Salvia officinalis and Salvia rosmarinus.

Wikipedia contributors, "Salvia", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Salvia

In the garden

Salvia 'African Sky' is a horticultural selection within the genus Salvia, placed in the family Lamiaceae. As a named cultivar it is assessed and sold on its flowering performance; its principal season of interest is June to September when it carries its floral display. Gardeners should treat it as a garden salvia: position it where the sequence of summer flowers is visible and accessible for pruning and deadheading if needed to sustain the display. Regular checks through the flowering months will let you remove spent flowers and tidy stems, helping maintain vigour throughout the season. Established plants are typically managed by shaping or shortening stems after the main flush of blooms to renew form for the following year. Use Salvia 'African Sky' where a dependable summer flowering period is wanted — it suits mixed borders and positions where its season-long bloom can complement perennials and annuals that flower earlier or later. Its predictable flowering window from June to September makes it a practical choice for planning continuous summer colour in a planting scheme.

More in the Salvia genus

Browse all Salvia →