We're blooming out a large number of these now, and this extra-vigorous clone has fab flowers. What do you all think?

@FBTS

Looks beautiful! I searched for Salvia guaranitica var purpurea on your site and these Salvias are what came up.

http://www.fbts.com/_search.ph...

Is this completely new and not even on your site yet? How tall and wide does it get?

We're not listing this one. Soon.

Maybe next year I can read all about it and maybe get one!

This looks like S. 'Purple Majesty' ? I would like to have both here at Hamilton Square.

I would absolutely be interested in this Salvia!! Not to replace "Amistad" but in addition to it. Especially if this is a variety of S Guaranitica that behaves like the species- gets good sized and spreads by tubers. I have read about "Purple Majesty" and "Jean's Purple" (I think that is the correct name and sometimes it gets confusing figuring out if some of these are the same plant under different names or indeed variations or hybrids with similar characteristics. I bought one from a local place this year- no botanical name on the tag but called "Brazilian Purple". It is not perennial here but it has gotten 3-4 feet tall and just as wide! Flowers almost exactly like Amistad but maybe very slightly more red in the Purple than Amistad. It has no tubers, just thinner roots. It is pretty but I think I would like to try the one in this thread instead. I sure will be watching for it to be listed for sale. The pics are of my "Brazilian Purple". @FBTS can you explain the differences between this one you will be offering from Brazilian Purple or Purple Majesty (which I do not know much about).

Nice healthy plant and pretty purple flowers.

@Marilyn
Thanks! It has done well despite about 1/3 of it breaking off in June at main stem in storm with heavy rain and wind- AND I have moved it twice since first putting it in the ground! It has just kept thriving and still gotten so huge! The only reason I would prefer S Guaranitica var purpurea is that it is purportedly more cold hardy, so would be one less annual to buy. Also I love the Guaranitica species (definitely getting Argentine Skies also- and Blue Ensugn if it is different than the one I just planted recently). On "Robin's Salvias" website (have you heard of it - he is a Salvia lover and collector in the UK and has quite a few and some good info) Brazlian purple is a hybrid with uncertain parentage, one parent species is supposedly Brazilian S splendens. That is the only I info I have been able to find about it.

I don't know much more about it, but Salvia 'Brazilian Purple' is a selection from the breeder Athena Brazil. Their website isn't working for me at the moment, though.

@Danita
Thanks for your input!!

I wanted to post an update in this thread because I am extremely interested in this Salvia since it seems to be a variety of the species that I think has a high possibility of being perennial for me, and I can never have too much purple! There is another one- S Guaranitica var violacea also- the blooms on it are lighter lavender colored and beautiful. When I called customer service at Flowers by the sea I was told they are not sure if they will have this one ready for this year - they are still evaluating it. One of the things I appreciate / that they want to be sure the plants have been garden tested and be able to give accurate info. In the meantime, when I got what was left of Robin Middleton's available seeds in January and to my delight both varieties were on the list. However The "violacea" variety was already sold out. I did get a packet of the "purpurea" variety so am excited at the prospect that I may be able to grow it this year (if I am successful with the seeds). If not I will certainly get one when Flowers by the sea does have it ready for sale!

Judy,

I'm drooling over this one, among others.

Welcome back to the Agastache and Salvias forum!

I have one purpurea seed sprouted. It got very good reviews from a friend in Louisiana so I am hopeful. If past efforts with guaranitica seed tell me anything it is that it will take more than one year to get a good read on this plant.

This subspecies has been slow to develop for us, taking a year plus to reach maturity. We more-or-less gave up on them as a stand alone variety, but have utilized the best of the 80 or so seedlings we grew as parents to cross with other guaranitica strains. Some success in the first generation, much more so in the second. A couple were sent last year for evaluation to nurseries in MI, GA, FL, PA and CA. Reports last year were positive, but it is too early in the year to be definitive about winter hardiness.

Bottom line is, this is a great species for hybridization but from our experience not much on its own.

Thanks for the tip Kermit.

Yes thank you Kermit. I had already ordered my seeds before I asked @FBTS about how it was coming along when I called. So I will just see what happens with the seeds. And of course when FBTS develops a great hybrid I will be more than happy to order one!

jg0613 said:And of course when FBTS develops a great hybrid I will be more than happy to order one!

Me too! Fabulous salvias!