Hi
I love salvias, and have propagated a few by softwood cuttings. However I would like to know specifically how to germinate seeds I've collected. Salvia blepharophylla is easy to collect seeds from. However I could not find any information on germination requirments or techniques on this specific species. Everything I read is completely generalized. Also can you grow seeds from salvia microphylla hot lips? Salvia leucantha? If a salvia is a hybrid will it be sterile? Or are the seeds just variable? For instance salvia bright eyes which I believe is a greggii microphylla hybrid, would it be able to set viable seeds? Thank you in advance for your help!

"Salvia blepharophylla is easy to collect seeds from. However I could not find any information on germination requirments or techniques on this specific species. Everything I read is completely generalized"

If the generalized instructions say surface sow at 15 to 20°c then that sounds about right to me for a Mexican species.

"Also can you grow seeds from salvia microphylla hot lips? Salvia leucantha?"

I can't say about Hot Lips but S.leucantha is easy from seed.

"If a salvia is a hybrid will it be sterile? Or are the seeds just variable? For instance salvia bright eyes which I believe is a greggii microphylla hybrid, would it be able to set viable seeds?"

If a hybrid does set seed I would expect it to be viable but I would expect it to revert or at least show some signs of reversion.

@Monty72 will have a better take on the above than me though.

@longk

Everything you said sounds about right. Thanks for sharing information.

I didn't know "S.leucantha is easy from seed", as I'm in zone 6a and I just get new plants each year.

@FBTS

Can you add any information to the questions carlysuko asked?

Salvia 'Hot Lips' never sets seed in my garden. However, it does in Belgium, maybe a different strain, and this is where Salvia 'Pink Lips' was discovered, I posted a photo of this a few weeks ago. My 'Pink Lips' set seed last year, and they have germinated well, could be very interesting to see the results!

Agree will all that longk wrote.

I have germinated hot lip seeds from my plant. They turned out to be duds (maybe unlucky with them), They are hard to find on the plant and only get very few per year. I have a plant from bright eyes seeds and is very vigorous and sets many seeds.

Thank you so much longk! I have collected quite a few seeds from saliva blepharophylla, crossing my fingers they germinate! 😊

longk said:"Salvia blepharophylla is easy to collect seeds from. However I could not find any information on germination requirments or techniques on this specific species. Everything I read is completely generalized"

If the generalized instructions say surface sow at 15 to 20°c then that sounds about right to me for a Mexican species.

"Also can you grow seeds from salvia microphylla hot lips? Salvia leucantha?"

I can't say about Hot Lips but S.leucantha is easy from seed.

"If a salvia is a hybrid will it be sterile? Or are the seeds just variable? For instance salvia bright eyes which I believe is a greggii microphylla hybrid, would it be able to set viable seeds?"

If a hybrid does set seed I would expect it to be viable but I would expect it to revert or at least show some signs of reversion.

@Monty72 will have a better take on the above than me though.

Thank you Marilyn!

Marilyn said:@longk

Everything you said sounds about right. Thanks for sharing information.

I didn't know "S.leucantha is easy from seed", as I'm in zone 6a and I just get new plants each year.

@FBTS

Can you add any information to the questions carlysuko asked?

Hi Robin,thank you for the information.WOW!That is sooooo exciting that there's a pink cultivator of hot lips.I saw the photo you had posted. Stunning, Salvias are the perfect plant in my opinion.

Monty72 said:Salvia 'Hot Lips' never sets seed in my garden. However, it does in Belgium, maybe a different strain, and this is where Salvia 'Pink Lips' was discovered, I posted a photo of this a few weeks ago. My 'Pink Lips' set seed last year, and they have germinated well, could be very interesting to see the results!

Agree will all that longk wrote.

Hi Duane,
I expected as much as hot lips is well known and popular so I assumed as much having never read anything about people growing it from seeds. As far as Bright Eyes being able to set seeds is FANTASTIC. Bright Eyes is probably my favorite salvia right now. It is stunning in my garden and right now I couldn't find one branch without buds or blooms on it. Thank you for the information!

duane456 said:I have germinated hot lip seeds from my plant. They turned out to be duds (maybe unlucky with them), They are hard to find on the plant and only get very few per year. I have a plant from bright eyes seeds and is very vigorous and sets many seeds.