Date: Fri, 18 Aug 2000 11:20:11
>From: Ron Rovansek
>Subject: salvias

>
>Salvia regla is hardy in Baton Rouge, and it often
survives as a deciduous
shrub
>in milder winters. In colder weather it tends to die
back to the ground like
>most other salvias. I have not really had much
chance to watch hummers use
it in
>Baton Rouge, but elsewhere it is definitely used.
The ones I have grown in
Baton
>Rouge bloom in November and into winter, but I
think it blooms much
earlier in
>the west.

=====================

Date: Sun, 11 May 2003 10:56:20 -0500
Reply-To: BB for Hummingbirds and Gardening for them in the Southeast <HUMNET-L@LISTSERV.LSU.EDU>
From: BB for Hummingbirds and Gardening for them in the Southeast <HUMNET-L@LISTSERV.LSU.EDU>
Subject: Re: [HUMNET-L] Fwd: Salvia Regla



I have grown Salvia regla since the mid-1980s. It is one of my
favorite plants though I've never seen one in Louisiana get to be as big or
floriferous as they grow in the wild or in California gardens.
Salvia
regla is very intolerant of having wet roots and for that reason,
I grow it in a large clay pot. Margaret Owens has one in the ground in a
slightly raised, sandy bed. Hers, which is a clone of mine, grows larger
and flowers better. However, all of my attempts to grow it in the
ground have resulted in croaked plants. That might be the difference between
Metairie and Covington.

I've seen them in flower as early as early August in the Chisos
Mountains and they are used by Broad-taileds, Black-chinneds, Lucifers, and
other species that migrate through at that time. My plants come from
the same Big Bend country of western Texas, but they never start flowering
as early. They are difficult to start from seed and even more
difficult to start from cuttings. People in other parts of the country have
better success with this than I do. My plants come into their best
flowering in late September and they are used by migrating Ruby-throateds.
Last year, just as they were reaching their "apex", Tropical Storm Isidore
pelted them with 20+ inches of rain and they lost all of their flowers and
leaves. But, all survived and are now thriving.

These plants lose most or all of their leaves in late winter. It
is important NOT to over water them at that time as this is part of
their natural life cycle. In its native Texas habitat, Salvia regla
sees regular snow and freezing temperatures so it isn't necessary to protect it
from cold. Salvia regla originating in more southerly climes might not
be as cold hardy, so it is a good idea to know what type your plants are
and to protect them in winter if they are not of the northernmost
variety. Occasionally, Salvia regla puts out a few blossoms in
the spring, but they are never as spectacular as those in the fall and they
don't set seed at that time.

Salvia regla leaves impart a pungent spicy aroma on your hands
when you handle them. I find it a pleasant smell, though some folks will
disagree.

Salvia regla is certainly worth some effort as a hummer plant, if
you can accommodate its pickiness. For me, it is a living reminder of
time spent in the rugged landscape that supports many hummers and few people.
It is a memento of glorious days spent studying the private lives of
hummers never seen in my neck of the woods. I hope Salvia regla will always be
a part of my hummingbird garden.

NLN

***************************
Nancy L Newfield
Casa Colibrí
Metairie, Louisiana USA
<colibri@webdsi.com>
***************************