Salvia semiatrata

A slower-growing evergreen shrub-like salvia, semiatrata means half darkened, referring to the darker shading along the corolla tube of its mauve-lavender flowers with contrasting magenta calyces. The colourful flowers, offset against small emerald-green foliage, appear throughout the year in bursts. They peak in summer and autumn, especially if tip-pruned throughout the growing season. A perfect companion for lavenders and dwarf agapanthus and useful for a sloping bank that basks in full sun.