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Hot Border Blues - Suggestions Please!

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  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    WillDB said:
    Another Salvia, S forrskaoli. I only just bought this one so don't know how it'll perform long term but it's quite a good blue. I saw S. patens at the same nursery, but found that sort of sky blue colour unnatural and would clash with more purpley blues.

    Image result for salvia forsskaolii



    I wants it!!  And from what I can find on t'internet, it might like the conditions here.  Maybe next year.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    For purple, would Linaria purpurea work?  The flowers are narrow spires and it self-sows so does its own mixing (at least, it does here).
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    I love Linaria purpurea, it pops up every year in new places so you just have to edit it.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Exactly - no trouble at all.  I don't know why I didn't think of it yesterday but I suppose we tend not to think of the common, easy things. I've grown seed of a white form this year and hope it behaves the same way.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Not sure, @JennyJ, looks lovely, but a bit of searching says it’s only moderately drought tolerant. But then I am never sure what works and what doesn’t here until I order it and try it. Things that should sometimes don’t and vice versa...
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    It works here on sandy soil in a relatively dry part of the UK (even through last summer's drought) but I guess even our worst heat and droughts aren't anything like your normal conditions.  If you're allowed to have seed sent through the post I could try and collect some for you in a few weeks' time.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    That’s kind, Jenny, thanks for the offer, appreciate it. Unfortunately I don’t have the right light conditions or space for seed germination - the few tiny scraps of window sill with just enough light are always crammed with veg seeds. One day I shall figure out a way to run power to my poly and get some heated mats to cope with plunging night temps!
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    OK, let me know if you change your mind.  Here they germinate fine in the ground where they fall, but you know your own conditions best - does the heat inhibit germination?  According to Mr. Google it is native to southern Italy but is widely naturalised.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Thanks Jenny, will do. It’s a double whammy here with seeds, too hot to scatter at the ‘natural’ drop time, they fry, too cold at night to germinate in Spring, where it can be hot during the day but poly temps drop to -8 overnight. I kind of like getting my parcels of little plants in Spring tbh, when someone else has done the hard work of raising them, which probably makes me a lazy slug  ;)
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • As a shorter option what about Penstemon 'Electric Blue'? Its quite a vivid blue with edges of pink/violet and is happy in most sunny, dry soil.
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