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Which salvia - Clotted Cream, Lemon Pie, Mirage Cream?

FireFire Posts: 19,096
in Problem solving
Dear Hive Mind,
I'm wanting to zhuzh up and beef up the dry, full sun, community bed. I am looking for a yellowy double cream bushy salvia, that doesn't run or flop or sprawl; one that is quite dense and upright, good for insects. The ones I am looking at currently are Clotted Cream, Lemon Pie, Mirage Cream. I haven't properly grown any of those before. I have Lemon Pie but it keeps getting trodden on. Mirage Cream seems to have a touch of apricot in the buds, which is nice. I will be wanting three plants. Hopefully they will thrive whatever future summers throw at them as long as they can get established properly.

What is your experience of these, please? If you have grown more than one of these types, which is preferred? Thanks x


Posts

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Fire I have Mirage Cherry Red doesn't fall over if that helps. They all sound good enough to eat!
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Does Mirage Cherry Red run much? @GardenerSuze ? Do the bees like it? I'm aware that bees in particular are more attracted to pinks and purples...
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited August 2022
    I had clotted cream for many years in a sunny border.
    It done well and looked good. I kept the woody frame to about 18" so overall it got to about 2ft. Didn't sprawl or flop at all.
    It's only now I realize it's vanished..

    It's the one between the pink phlox and the verbascum



    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Clotted Cream is a very good one  :)
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    According to Norfolk Herbs, Clotted Cream and Lemon Pie are synonymous.  That’s a shame, the dessert menu doesn’t look as enticing now!  Are shrubby salvias reliably hardy?
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • bullfinchbullfinch Posts: 692
    I have clotted cream. It does seem to stay fairly upright and if it's a bonus, very easy to take cuttings from  :)
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Plantminded said:
    According to Norfolk Herbs, Clotted Cream and Lemon Pie are synonymous. 

    :o

    Are shrubby salvias reliably hardy?

    It depends where you are - how far south, how exposed, altitude etc. And it depends on the salvia. Ones like Royal Bumble or Hot Lips  are hardy down to about -5oC in London.  I did lose a few to hard winters and snow about eight years ago. In recent autumns in London I have risked pruning hard back in Nov - after final flowering - so that they start flowering again in April. If you prune after threat of frost - in April - they don't flower till June/July. So, here, it's worth the risk.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Fire Not sure if it depends on soil conditions but Mirage Cherry Red doesn't run in my garden. Good strong stems. Plenty of bees and other insects too.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited August 2022
    There are a huge number of salvia cultivars out there, many looking very similar.

    It seems that Lemon Pie and Clotted Cream may have different parentage, but look very much the same - so Norfolk Herbs decided on one name.


  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Thank you @Fire.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


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