Make More Salvias!

Increase stock for free of this long-flowering summer stalwart that’ll thrive in dry heat

This year I’ve been lucky enough to attend some of the big flower shows in the UK, and one of the most outstanding groups of plants on show from the Chelsea Flower Show right through to Tatton have been the ornamental sages.

Salvias from Central America have become de rigueur for the late-summer garden, and at Glebe Cottage we have a rolling programme for propagating these exciting plants.

A batch of plants grown from cuttings taken in the summer will yield a mass of suitable material for further cuttings during the winter. Either apical (upright) or lateral (side) shoots can be used. Here’s how...

With a sharp knife, sever pieces 10-15cm (4-6in) long just above a bud so that the parent plant can heal its wounds without rot setting in. Trim the cuttings below the lowest leaf node and remove the basal (bottom) leaves and any other large leaves.