The results of an RHS People’s Choice vote on a trial of more than 100 salvias at RHS Garden Hyde Hall have revealed a clear winner, followed by a number of closely contested runners-up.
Salvia farinacea ‘Strata’ emerged as the front runner from the start, captivating voters with its unique flower spikes and white-blue blooms. Voters were particularly drawn to its colour combination, describing it as a “beautiful bi-colour”.
The list of closely contested runners up included Salvia greggii Mirage™ ‘Rose Bicolour’, Salvia ‘Mystic Spires Blue’, Salvia patens, and Salvia viridis ‘Bouquet Mixed’.
Notable trends amongst voters were a preference for bi-colour varieties and those with compact habits. Additionally, many expressed their delight at the abundance of bees that were drawn to certain salvias, with farinacea and Salgoon varieties being praised as superb bee magnets.
The RHS trials team also took the opportunity to have the salvias assessed by a panel of experts with a view to awarding the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) to those that meet the relevant criteria. The results of the AGM assessment will be published later this year.
Throughout the summer, the salvia demonstration delighted visitors in the Floral Fantasia garden at RHS Hyde Hall, where over 600 votes were counted. Weather permitting, the display will be available to view until at least the end of October. Looking ahead, the excitement continues, as next year will be the Floral Fantasia Year of the Sunflower, offering visitors the chance to vote for their favourite Helianthus cultivar.
