Salvia splendens Carambita

Salvia splendens 'Carambita' is a brand new variety of compact and early-blooming vibrant sage, with an endless flowering of dense spikes in intense red. These qualities make this generous and bold little plant an excellent flower for ornamenting borders and containers. Very easy to grow as an annual, this sage is within the grasp of all gardeners - even the most inexperienced.

Salvia splendens is a tender herbaceous perennial plant of the Lamiaceae family, native to the warm and humid regions of Brazil where it is found at altitudes between 2000 and 3000 m (9842.5 ft). It has given rise to many cultivars that are increasingly compact and floriferous, such as 'Carambita'. The plant forms a small, upright, stocky, well-branched tuft, 20-25 cm (7.9-9.8 in) high and wide, in the space of one season. Its green, four-cornered stems are branching and upright, very strong, and resistant to wind and rain. The leaves which cling along their entire length are ovate to lanceolate, toothed, and a beautiful dark green. The flowering spikes rise above the foliage from June-July until the end of autumn. The tubular flowers, of a beautiful size, are scarlet red, offering a wonderful contrast with the foliage.

This vibrant sage is a queen of flowerbeds which will be familiar to everyone from their neighbours' gardens or local green spaces. As long as not overused, when scattered in small groups among other plants with complementary colours (blue delphinium and silver artemisia) it adds soul to flowerbeds, blooming even when summer perennials are at rest. It performs perfectly well in pots, to adorn terraces, balconies, and containers.

With over 900 species of annuals, perennials, and softwood shrubs distributed throughout the globe (except for very cold regions and tropical forests) the genus Salvia is the richest in the Lamiaceae family.

Please note that our young plants in mini-plugs are professional products intended for experienced gardeners: upon receipt, transplant and store them under shelter (veranda, greenhouse, frame) at a temperature above 14C° for a few weeks before planting outside once all risk of frost has passed.