Salvia darcyi (08/11/2015, Kew gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to partial shade
Flowering period: Late sprint to early summer and autumn
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 1.2m
Eventual Spread: 1.2m
Hardiness: 7b, 8a 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
Family: Lamiaceae
Salvia darcyi is a semi evergreen perennial sub shrub with a clump forming habit. Its mid green leaves are ovate to cordate with serrulate margins, up to 8cm long and 6cm broad. Its leaves are fragrant when crushed. Its red flowers are tubular, 4cm long and appear as racemes on terminal spikes. Its roots are stoloniferous which aids its slow spread.
Salvia darcyi Flower (08/11/2015, Kew gardens, London)
Salvia darcyi, commonly known as Darcy’s Sage, Mexican Red Sage, Mountain Sage or Galeana Red Sage, is native to Mexico. In its native habitat it grows in mountainous regions. Salvia darcyi is synonymous with Salvia oresbia.
The etymological root of the binomial name Salvia is derived from the Latin salvare, meaning to ‘heal’, in reference to the use of Salvia vulgaris as a medicinal plant. Darcyi is named after John d’Arcy, a member of the British collecting team who discovered this plant.
Salvia darcyi Leaf (08/11/2015, Kew gardens, London)
The landscape architect may find Salvia darcyi useful as part of a herbaceous planting scheme, benefiting from the support of other plants to keep a tidy, upright appearance.
Ecologically, Salvia darcyi flowers are attractive to some pollinating insects and hummingbirds.
Salvia darcyi prefers moist, humus rich, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. This plant dislikes wet soils.
Salvia darcyi requires little maintenance. Large clumps may be divided in spring.
Landscape Architecture
