Salvia x sylvetris 'mainacht'

One of the more fashionable salvias at present is Salvia x sylvetris 'mainacht'. With a dense low growing habit and tall flower spikes rising above the mass of green foliage it is easy to see why.

This is a salvia that could be used as a ground cover, it forms a nice clump and the foliage stays down at around 50 cm. The flowers are a deep blue to purple and appear in late spring to summer depending on position and conditions, the warmer the earlier.

Excellent in the cottage garden and it could be used as allow border along a fenceline. Container growing is possible, however probably other plants are more suited. The dark green foliage can act as a foil for variegated and silver foliage plants.

The long flowering nature of Salvia 'May Night' along with the easy care nature are greet attractions

Care and Pruning

In a well drained soil and a sunny position Salvia x sylvetris 'mainacht' requires little care at all. It seems to be frost hardy and also does well in seaside positions. Requiring very little water after it is established, although an annual dose of slow release fertiliser will be useful.

Pruning back spent flower heads in mid to late summer can help encourage a second flush of flowers, in fact you can cut back the flower heads a few times in the right conditions. And the name 'mainacht', well that means May Night, when it starts to flower.

Propagation of Salvia x sylvetris is from seed or from softwood cuttings taken in late spring.