Salvia farinacea 'Rhea'

Today we will admire one of many beautiful species of Salvia--Salvia being the largest genus in the Lamiaceae (mint) family! Just like all members of its genus, Salvia farinacea ‘Rhea’ boasts two-lipped flowers on square, upright stems. The violet blue blooms of ‘Rhea’ grow throughout the summer season on tall spikes reaching 12-24’’ at maturity. Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds are known to frequent the flowers. The leaves are a soft gray-green in color and carry a sweet, subtle aroma.

The vibrant color and aromatic foliage make S. farinacea ‘Rhea’ a popular choice for bedding, borders, and containers in home gardens and other landscaping projects. Another wonderful feature of this plant is its resistance to deer and rabbit. As is true of the Salvia genus, ‘Rhea’ is a drought resistant variety that has low to moderate watering needs. It thrives in full sun and well drained soil, though it can tolerate dry clay soil. For those of you looking to add some cooler color to a bouquet, ‘Rhea’ is also a popular cut flower.

According to The New Sunset Western Garden Book, the plant is usually grown as an annual in all Climate Zones. Currently we have S. farinacea ‘Rhea’ growing in 6-packs. Don’t hesitate to give us a call if you’re interested in learning more about this plant or the many others we have looking splendid around the nursery.