This striking perennial brings valuable early summer colour to the Herbaceous Beds.
The Balkan clary, Salvia nemorosa, originates from Europe and central Asia where it grows in woodland groves. In recognition of this Carl Linnaeus assigned it the species name nemorosa, meaning ‘of woods’. In our gardens this species enjoys well-drained, moist soil in full sun. The selection ‘Caradonna’ originated in Germany and has intense violet-purple flowers, which are carried in whorls along the length of the raceme. A member of the Lamiaceae, or mint family, the flowers are typically two-lipped; the upper being hooded, and the lower being two-lobed and spreading.