The Gentian Sage Flower

Salvia patens (sometimes called Gentian sage) is native to a wide area of central Mexico. It is a herbaceous perennial.

It was introduced to horticulture in 1838 and is now grown widely. It is frequently treated as an annual due to its sensitivity to hard frost, with bedding plants often put out in spring. Varieties have been developed with colors ranging from white to lilac to various shades of blue. Seeds from Holland have been available since the 1990s for rich colored and large flowered varieties. William Robinson praised it in the 1933 edition of The English Flower Garden as one of the best plants in cultivation. A collecting trip to Mexico in 1991 led by James Compton discovered a 1.8 m (6 foot) tall variety with large deep blue flowers that is available as 'Guanajuato'.

Salvia patens is tuberous, and easily lifted for overwintering in a greenhouse. The more common varieties reach 0.3 - 0.6 m (1-2 feet) tall and wide, and are covered with hastate shaped mistletoe-green leaves. Inflorescences reach 0.15 - 0.3 m (6-12 inches) or longer, rising well above the leaves. 1 inch flowers are spaced along the inflorescence, with a 1.3cm (0.5 inch) green calyx that adds to the attractiveness of the flowers.





Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvia_patens

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