Salvia Dysons Joy

Salvia 'Dyson's Joy' is a shrubby sage with delicate bicoloured flowers in pink and white from late spring to autumn. Its compact habit and semi-evergreen aromatic foliage make it a valuable ally for sunny and warm terraces and gardens. Robust but only moderately hardy, it will need protection in cold regions.

Shrubby sage 'Dyson's Joy' belongs to the large family of Lamiaceae, which offers gardeners many aromatic and ornamental plants (thyme, rosemary, catnip, agastache...). This variety comes from a group of sages native to the mountains of Central America, which gives them an impressive hardiness of about -10°C (14°F). These sages are woody: their stems harden and form wood, which will be damaged by strong frost, especially in cold climates. The leaves are semi-evergreen in mild climates, small and ovate, and deliciously aromatic with hints of mint and lemon. This fragrance is particularly pronounced in hot and dry weather, and the essential oils often make the leaves slightly sticky.
Between May and October (or even later), 'Dyson's Joy' sage produces numerous small two-lipped flowers in pink and white, very delicate and bee-friendly. It has a fairly compact habit: it will reach 60 cm (24in) in all directions.

The origins of 'Dyson's Joy' sage make it well adapted to sunny, dry, limestone and stony soils. Moderately hardy: it will grow without problems in mild and warm climates but will require winter protection if the temperatures frequently drop below -10°C - in which case, grow in a pot to be brought indoors as soon as frost is forecast. If you want to plant it outside in a cold region, make sure to provide it with a well-protected location, sheltered from cold winds. You can also mulch its base, but be careful not to choose a material that retains too much moisture: use mineral mulch like gravel, as excessive winter water would be fatal to it. If the summer is very dry, 'Dyson's Joy' sage will benefit from occasional watering to support its flowering, always taking care not to excessively wet its base. Prune it back in late winter to densify the plant, but not before the last frost.

Perfect in rock gardens, dry borders, and containers, this sage will form beautiful combinations with other shrubby sages like 'Raspberry Royal', 'Blue Note' or 'Amethyst Lips'. You can also plant a dry ground cover at its base, such as Alpine savory, 'Berggold' mountain alyssum or the perennial purslane Wheels of Wonder White.