A few weeks ago, September 7 to be exact, I was with my pal Loree standing near a table of plants at Far Reaches Farm when she said, "I smell something." Now, I'd taken a shower and used deodorant that day so after discretely checking the bottoms of my shoes, I said, "Whatever do you mean?" Fortunately, it was a pleasant fragrance, that of Salvia clevelandii 'Alpine Form,' that had tickled my shopping companion's nose. Soon I smelled it as well and was delighted. Although new to me, this is a plant with which Loree is well aquainted see her posts about it here and see some beautiful images of the plant in bloom and additional information about it at Plant Lust.
Now I'll admit that this little guy who came back with us that day won't win any beauty contests right now but let me assure you that being with this plant in my car on the drive home was an olfactory treat of the highest order!
A perennial that grows 3'x3' and has blue flowers in May and June that are attractive to hummingbirds, Salvia clevelandii 'Alpine' is hardy to zone 8a which is the hardiness zone of my garden except when we have a rare very cold winter and we drift a little more toward zone 7b. Fingers crossed that I'll be posting blue salvia flowers next May on Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!
By the way, is it cheating to post as my favorite plant something brand new to me about which I know nothing?
For other bloggers' favorite plants this week click on over to Danger Garden to check it out!
Love the plant description, I'm going to have to find this one. Salvias work well in my garden and I always enjoy pleasantly scented plants. Salvia clevelandii 'Alpine Form' is going on the list of plants I need.
ReplyDeleteIt was fortunate that Loree was with me as I might have overlooked this wonderfully-scented plant! I enjoy it every day as I pass it!
DeleteI think Rosie might like this one, she likes a good Salvia scent!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, Rosie definitely deserves one of these. She's such a cutie!
DeleteIt's such a unique scent too, I don't think any other leaf or flower smells quite like it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it survives your winter. Maybe if it does, I'll get one next year.
ReplyDeleteMy fingers are crossed too as I really love the fragrance. I'm also leaving some agaves and opuntias out this year because you had fairly good luck with them.
DeleteIt´s not cheating! something can be a favorite even if we know nothing about it, I think! We´ll see what Loree says! Ohhhh noooooo, now you´ve made me want to smell that plant so bad... and they don´t sell it here!!! Hahaha
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry that you can't find this plant in Madrid! I bet you have wonderful fragrances of lavender and rosemary all around you though.
DeleteNot cheating at all! Totally fair game. I'm so glad you grabbed one too, and are enjoying its scent. That night (after our plant adventure) I stuck all my plants in our car in the hotel's garage, windows up. My salvia had filled the car with it's scent by morning, Andrew wasn't particularly thrilled. It's a little overwhelming in an enclosed space...
ReplyDeleteOOPS! I imagine that if it is so delightfully strong outside that it would be a little too strong in a small car! Oh well, a little rolling down of the windows probably helped the scent to dissipate, right?
DeleteSold! Where can I buy one?
ReplyDeleteFar Reaches Farm. I don't know it they list it on their mail order site but you really need to make a field trip up there someday! Cistus might have it at times if not, I'd be happy to pick one up at Far reaches and bring it down next time I visit Portland.
DeleteIt's love at first sight! No, at first sniff!
ReplyDeleteIt's an incredible fragrance! Even if it's not totally hardy for me, I'll probably get another early next year and keep it in a pot just to enjoy that smell!
DeleteThe fragrance certainly sounds alluring. I hope it makes it through the winter for you. I looked at the flowers on the Las Pilitas site and they look pretty.
ReplyDeleteYes, the flowers do look lovely and I understand that, like all salvias, this one attracts humming birds. Who could ask for anything more in a plant?
DeleteI wish I'd have looked for a smaller version of Salvia clevelandii like 'Alpine' or 'Winnifred Gilman.' I planted 'Allen Chickering,' which looks as though it might consume small children before swallowing my entire house.
ReplyDeleteOh my, I've never heard of a house-eating salvia. I suppose anything's possible in your sunny climate!
DeleteThey really do smell amazing...there's nothing quite like them :-)
ReplyDeleteSigh...yes indeed. Have you kept yours through the winter o.k?
DeleteI was getting all excited about this salvia until I got to the zone 8 part. Oh well:)
ReplyDeleteSorry about that. Could be a nice annual for you though.
DeleteSuch regret I feel regarding S. clevelandii..it is native here and grows well, low water low care. It is the only plant I have ever encountered whose fragrance makes me respiratorily uncomfortable. I've never had allergies, asthma or any other of those types of afflictions, but S. c. had to be removed here shortly after planting , even though I love the fragrance and the plant. I have many many other Salvia cultivars that don't bother me at all. I'm hoping I'll outgrow it !
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear that this fragrance makes you respiratorily uncomfortable, especially since you love the fragrance.
DeleteSniff sniff...when will the tech wizards come up with an olifactory app?
ReplyDeleteThat would pretty cool!
DeleteI just got one of these. I can't even remember whether I got it at Joy Creek Nursery or Cistus Nursery. What appealed to me is that it had what looked to me like a very "mediterraneany" look to it so I thought it might work nicely in the part of my yard that I planted mediterranean type plants in. Since I just got it a month or so ago it's too early to have any further observations.
ReplyDelete