Salvia Amigo: The flamboyantly elegant sage
Origin and history
Salvia Amigo is another success story from the talented hybridizer Rolando Uría, based in Argentina. Designed as a complement or variation to his famous Salvia Amante, this hybrid also combines traits of Salvia guaranitica and other South American salvias. Developed to meet the expectations of modern gardeners, Salvia Amigo seduces with its compact habit, generous flowering, and unique hue.
Recently introduced to the European market, it is quickly gaining popularity for its spectacular appearance and its ability to brighten up gardens late in the season.
Full botanical description
Family: Lamiaceae
Habit: Compact and rounded, reaching about 80 to 100 cm in height and 60 to 80 cm in width.
Foliage: Light to medium green, slightly aromatic when crushed.
Flowers: Tubular, intense pink with reddish highlights, with purple or dark purple calyxes. The floral spikes, straight and elegant, form a remarkable contrast with the foliage.
Flowering: Abundant and continuous from June until the first frosts, guaranteeing a prolonged spectacle in the garden.
Morphological and evolutionary characteristics
A garden hybrid, Salvia Amigo takes up the main assets of its parents:
Excellent resistance and good tolerance to various climates.
A long and abundant flowering, characteristic of modern sage hybrids.
Its name, "Amigo", reflects its friendly role in gardens: an easy-going plant suitable for multiple uses.
Growing and use tips
Exposure: Sun or light partial shade. Bright exposure is necessary to maximize flowering.
Soil: Prefers rich, well-drained soils, but adapts to poorer substrates, provided they are not too wet.
Watering: Regularly the first year to encourage establishment. Once well rooted, it can withstand periods of moderate drought.
Hardiness: Resists temperatures down to around -5°C. In cold regions, it is advisable to mulch or grow in pots for easy overwintering.
Maintenance:
Pruning lightly in spring to encourage healthy regrowth.
Remove faded flowers to prolong flowering.
Apply mulch in winter to protect the stump.
Propagation
Semi-hardy cuttings in summer, in a light and moist substrate.
Division of clumps in spring, only if the plant is well established.
Use in the garden
Salvia Amigo is an excellent choice for:
Sunny beds, where its bright flowers create a spectacular effect.
Mixed borders, in association with plants with complementary shades such as grasses or autumn-flowering perennials.
Pots and planters to decorate terraces, balconies, or patios.
It is particularly prized for its ecological role, attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Little gardener's tip
Combine Salvia Amigo with plants with silver foliage, such as lavender or mugwort, to accentuate its bright flowers. An organic fertilizer in the spring will boost its growth and flowering.