Salvia jamensis Delice Roselilac

Salvia x jamensis 'Delice Roselilac' is a brand new shrubby sage with deep pink flowers and a white heart, from May until autumn. Its floribundity and its semi-evergreen aromatic foliage make it a precious ally for sunny and warm terraces and gardens. Robust but moderately hardy, it will need protection in cold regions.

The 'Delice Roselilac' sage belongs to the large family of Lamiaceae, which offers gardeners numerous aromatic and ornamental plants (thyme, rosemary, catmint, 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 can be damaged by severe frost, especially in cold climates. The foliage is semi-evergreen in mild climates, small and ovate, and deliciously aromatic, with minty and lemony notes. 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 later if the weather is mild), the 'Delice Roselilac' sage produces numerous small flowers of an attractive bright pink, with a white heart. The teeth of the calyx are also purple-pink and complete this charming picture. It will reach about 70 cm (28in) in height and 80 cm (32in) in width.

The origins of the 'Delice Roselilac' shrubby sage make it well suited to sunny, dry, limestone and stony soils. Only moderately hardy, it will grow without a problem in mild and warm climates but will require winter protection if the temperatures frequently drop below -10°C - in which case, grow in a container to be brought indoors as soon as frost is forecast. If you want to plant it outside in a cold region, make sure to offer it 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 a mineral mulch such as gravel, as excess winter water would be fatal to it. If the summer is very dry, the 'Delice Roselilac' sage may need occasional watering to support its flowering, always taking care not to excessively wet its base. You can prune it short at the end of winter to densify the plant but do not do so before the last cold spells.

Perfect in rock gardens, dry borders, and containers, this sage will form beautiful combinations with other sages from the same series such as Salvia 'Delice Feline' or Delice Aphrodite... It can also be associated with dry-tolerant perennials such as Sedum spectabile 'Carl', panicaut Jos Eijking, or agastache 'Summer Love'.