This one is on the cusp. We are introducing a very exciting new variety on Friday - sign up for our Salvia Alert! to get the first information.

Salvia Alert Signup:---> http://eepurl.com/OJyBf

I guess Friday we'll see what you have up your sleeve.

Can't wait! I've been signed up a long time ago, so I'll be looking for the email!

FBTS said:This is a seedling from 2013 that has made it through stage 2 of our evaluation/testing process. If all continues well we might offer it this fall, or more likely in the spring of 2015. No name yet. Would love to hear if you all like it.

@FBTS

Kermit is it Salvia 'Elk Pink Cloud'? http://www.fbts.com/salvia-x-e...

Or haven't you named and introduced it yet?

I wondered the same thing, Marilyn.

No, this one is not Pink Cloud. It still is unnamed, and still being considered. We have bred forward with it as well, and some of the progeny is under consideration.

Pink Cloud has much larger flowers and is a cascading sort - perfect for hanging baskets.

We have become pretty ruthless in our selection process - lots of plants make it to the first stage but very few stay on the list through the first year's trials. In many cases we are sending out trial stock to wholesale growers across the country as a part of the evaluation process. This adds another year to the process, but validate the plants characteristics across a wide range of conditions. Something that grows well for us might not do as well in North Carolina or Florida or Pennsylvania or Illinois. It is difficult at times to be patient, but in the long run it is a much better strategy.

@FBTS I was considering getting the pink cloud for a hanging pot near my hummingbird feeder, will it take long to flower in z6? It is really nice!

We have to pinch off flowers in the plants we sell, so that they will fill out and make a nice plant. It wants to flower NOW. Not Zone 6 hardy, however.

Thanks for that info Kermit!

FBTS said:We have to pinch off flowers in the plants we sell, so that they will fill out and make a nice plant. It wants to flower NOW. Not Zone 6 hardy, however.

@FBTS

Kermit,

But, ok as grown as an annual?! ('Elk Pink Cloud')

FBTS said:No, this one is not Pink Cloud. It still is unnamed, and still being considered. We have bred forward with it as well, and some of the progeny is under consideration.

Pink Cloud has much larger flowers and is a cascading sort - perfect for hanging baskets.

We have become pretty ruthless in our selection process - lots of plants make it to the first stage but very few stay on the list through the first year's trials. In many cases we are sending out trial stock to wholesale growers across the country as a part of the evaluation process. This adds another year to the process, but validate the plants characteristics across a wide range of conditions. Something that grows well for us might not do as well in North Carolina or Florida or Pennsylvania or Illinois. It is difficult at times to be patient, but in the long run it is a much better strategy.

@FBTS

Thanks for the update, Kermit. We'll all just keep drooling until you name it.

Marilyn said:

@FBTS

Kermit,

But, ok as grown as an annual?! ('Elk Pink Cloud')

Absolutely.

Thanks Kermit for the info!