This salvia from Ecuador is an evergreen shrub from 1.5-2m with spikes of mid blue flowers for a long time in warmer months. It is tolerant of frost to -2C or more.

Flocculosa has had a couple of name changes, starting off in Australia as ‘Kathe’ until it had a ‘correct’ name of cruickshankii which didn’t last real long and settled into flocculosa.

The growth is twiggy which generally means more flowers in plants. I haven’t noticed seed but it can be grown from cuttings. It could be cut back with hedge shears perhaps in spring or from time to time in summer.

Possibly the most similar plant is keerlii. Gilliesii’s flowers are also similar but gilliesii is deciduous.

Price:  $7