I was looking at Robin's (Middleton) Salvia Gallery at a very pretty Salvia x jamensis that he calls Senorita Leah. My problem with this is that it looks like FBTS's Salvia x jamensis Yellow Pink. So who is right here? BTW, I really like both of them regardless of the name, but it would be nice to know the correct name. Robin has this one under the "W" on his gallery, don't know why, but that's where it is.

Why not ask Robin? He quickly answers messages you send through his web site.

Joseph, just sent off an e-mail to Robin, hope to have an answer soon. Thanks for your advice on asking Robin directly.

Actually, I wondered about the differences in the 'Senorita Leah' that FBTS has for sale and the photographs of 'Senorita Leah' that I've seen on Robin's site and one I've seen posted by Rich Dufresne on another site. Both Robin's and Rich's 'Senorita Leah' look to be the same with peachy-pink flowers, but the FBTS 'Senorita Leah' is hot-pink. Maybe Kermit will chime in here...

I think 'Yellow Pink' is a separate cultivar that just shares a resemblance with Robin's 'Senorita Leah'. There are a lot of selections of greggii/microphylla/x jamensis that closely resemble one another. If you get one without an I.D. it would be almost impossible to get a proper I.D. on most just based on its looks.

fyi, the reason 'Senorita Leah' is under "W" on Robin's site is because it is actually the "W-X-Y-Z" page and it is an " x jamensis" so it's under "X".

Thanks, Danita, I really appreciate your input. As I say, I am very new to this, so any salvia I order I hope to get the correct name. Thanks, also, for explaining why Robin has salvias that are listed under an "x". I had no idea that was the reason.

If you order from FBTS you should get the correct name/correct plant. It is a reputable company run by Salvia enthusiast gardeners. They send nicely sized and shaped plants too. 'Senorita Leah' is the only thing on the site that I questioned. I guess it's possible that different climates bring out different coloration but they seem a little too different.

Be careful, collecting the different Salvia cultivars can be additive!

Perhaps Kermit, who owns Flowers By The Sea, will chime in regarding this.

Some colors - especially pinks - are most difficult to photograph, to describe and to anticipate.

What is hot pink here could be a "clear" pink in Atlanta, and a rose pink in Santa Fe. Environmental conditions, especially the intensity of the sun, but all growing conditions play into what color the flower is. Time of year is a factor as well. I could go on but have to go back to the plants.

Our Senorita Leah came from Robin.

Kermit

Okay, everybody, just read the e-mail reply from Robin Middleton, and he says FBTS has the original and correct hybrid. Robin goes on to say he might re-name the one he has. Thanks, Kermit, for your information and time--know how busy you must be with the plants.

"Thanks, Kermit, for your information and time--know how busy you must be with the plants."

Thanks for the info, Kermit! I had wondered about that for a while: I suspected climate difference but wasn't sure. I have noticed that my 'Pat Vlasto', which usually has a similar peachy-pink coloration, varies in color depending on the weather much more so than other varieties of different coloration. The exception would be 'Hot Lips' of course!