Salvia splendens Ker-Gawl.

Horticultural & Botanical History

Today a versatile and very popular summer bedding plant but when first introduced it was grown as a hot-house or conservatory plant.  ‘Introduced by Mr. Lee from the Brazils into the Hammersmith Nursery, where the plant flowers freely in the hot-house and for a long time in succession.’  [BR f.687/1823].  ‘Where winter flowering plants are in demand for decorating of the conservatory, or for supplying cut flowers, this will be found exceedingly useful; for nice sized specimens are easily grown in the course of the summer; they require very little attention or accommodation, and when seen in the form of large specimens, well covered with spikes of bright scarlet flowers, few winter blooming plants present a more brilliant appearance, and scarcely any remain as long in beauty.’  [Gard. Chron. 1854].  ‘The blossoms are rich and strikingly beautiful; the leaves and growth are not so attractive.’  [LBC no.1089, 1826].  By the 1850s there were a number of improved varieties available, such as Soucheti.  [FS f.1154/1856].  Introduced to Britain in 1822.  [JD].  Saint-Hilaire pl.425/1832.

History at Camden Park

Listed only in the 1845 and 1850 catalogues.  On 16th August 1844 Macarthur wrote to Mrs. Annie Wickham that ‘I can send neither the Salvia splendens nor any of the Noisette roses.  All our stock of the former rotted last winter so that we have not one; and the whole of the young plants of the latter have been sent away this winter.’  [MP A2933-2, p.6].  The catalogue record also suggests that it was short-lived in the gardens, but such a popular plant would almost certainly have been reintroduced.

Notes