Sacha, I visited your nursery in August with my sister, where I
introduced
myself as a sometime user of this forum. You were both very kind and
Ray
showed me round your lovely garden. I purchased a Salvia ambigens -
which
has turned into a very fine plant. My question is do you consider that
Salvia ambigens is a seperate species as I believe Betsy Clebsch claims
in
her book, or do you regard it as the same as Salvia guaranitica 'Blue
Enigma' as John Sutton claims. Either way it is a lovely plant.


Hello, Peter. I remember your visit very well and I'm glad you enjoyed
the
garden. The RHS changed ambigens to S. guaranitica a while ago. Up until
then there was, apparently, some confusion because people were calling the
same plant the two names but it is now officially S. guaranitica. There
is
another S. guaranitica called Black and Blue, which is taller but it's
Ray's
opinion that 'Blue Enigma' is probably hardier and is certainly stronger
in
terms of flowering.
As you say it's a lovely plant and ours is still going strong in the
garden
and looks wonderful. Another that is doing rather well in a container but
not quite as strong flowering right now is S. Stormy Pink which is quite a
new hybrid, possibly a S. microphylla. S. involucrata Mulberry Jam is a
big
favourite of mine as is S. confertiflora but I think we discussed these
and
you didn't think they'd be suitable for you. They come through the winter
with us but I know they're borderline. I think 'Mulberry Jam' was found
in
Betsy Clebsch's garden.
BTW, did you know that Christine Yeo is giving up opening to the public?
I
think she's going to go on breeding and raising plants, though.
--
Sacha, many thanks for your reply. Having discovered that you have an
excellent range of Salvias, I will be back when I am next down in Devon. I
have both your S. 'Blue Enigma' and a S. 'Black and Blue' almost side by
side in pots, and hope to be getting some more varieties. I am sorry that
Christine Yeo is giving up. She told me when I visited her nursery a couple
of days before I visited you. However I am pleased to hear she is going on
breeding and raising plants. I think that once you have been hooked, it is
difficult to give up.