Pruning Salvia Nachtvlinder

borgadr · 6 March

I've got a couple of Salvia nachtvlinder which I planted a couple of years back. I didn't cut them back last winter as they were quite small.

Now they've bulked out nicely, and they are kind of woody (it's my first time growing a woody salvia) and they've stayed evergreen this winter.

So I'm wondering, should I just give them a trim & tidy, like I would for a lavender? or should I hack them back to the ground like a herbacious perennial?

Marlorena · 6 March

Try half way - reduce by half.. otherwise you will have a floppy, straggly plant by midsummer.

This is mine today, pruned a couple of weeks ago.. I'm noticing a few twiggy bits I've still to nip off there..

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/hz/wa6p483rnol0.jpg

borgadr · 6 March

Perfect - thanks @Marlorena !

JennyJ · 6 March

You can do either with Nachtvlinder. It spreads underground like some perennials. Not all the shrubby salvias do that (most of my other ones don't).

Dovefromabove · 6 March

I reduce mine by two thirds … but not until later … usually early May … the front garden where it grows is a frost pocket. That means that it looks a bit scruffy before it’s cut back … but it works 😊

borgadr · 6 March

Thanks all. I'll give it a cut back (but not all the way) in the coming weeks

GardenerSuze · 7 March

I have a new pot with a 55cm diameter/height 65cm. I have planted Rubus tricolor as a spiller and a small Calamagrostis Karl Foerster in the centre for height, should get to approx 90cm. I have never grown S Nachtvlinder before but think it would make an excellent filler. I was thinking of three plants. In 9cm pots would three fill the space this summer.
I will cut them back after flowering as they soon get going again with some feed.

Dovefromabove · 7 March

My one Nachtvlinder plant occupies an area approx 1m x 1m … mind you it is about ten years old … but they are large shrubby salvias.

Plantminded · 7 March

Salvia Caradonna might be more suitable @GardenerSuze. There's a new pink variety which you might like. Either should be fine for one season.

https://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/salvia-nemorosa-caradonna-pink-inspiration-tuitsalv-pbr/classid.2000040573/

Or a Nepeta which can be divided when it gets too big. That's an interesting choice of a spiller, have you used it before?

GardenerSuze · 7 March

@Plantminded I did see a pink salvia similar to S Caradonna only yesterday. I really need something that is very long flowering so will keep investigating.

Rubus tricolor is a thug often found on roundabouts. In a large tall pot it makes a good spiller that can be used year after year. The leaves are shiny and it can grow up to a metre in length so you need to be sure no one can trip up it if it starts to crawl along the ground. Not easy to find for sale as it is doesn't seem a very garden worthy plant. I have grown it for years lifting and splitting in half each spring. I never threw any away there was always someone who wanted to give it a go, but never let it loose in the garden.

Just to add I did once go to a Garden Club talk on Roundabout plants! Some of the best are in Nottingham city where they were planted by the team that plant up all the green spaces at Nottinham Uni. Absolute genious lots of exotics and spider plants en masse.

Plantminded · 7 March

I like the sound of that @GardenerSuze, a thug for my containers to keep unwanted visitors away😊.

Pruning Salvia Nachtvlinder

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