SALVIA SAGITATA

HEIGHT 90CM SPREAD 60CM

FLOWERING: JUNE-SEPTEMBER OR MARCH-APRIL

POSITION: FULL SUN

HARDINESS: I would err on the size of caution but  - Southern Hemisphere -  so not below freezing here in the UK  (despite it coming from what must be above the snow line!) 

This is a very rare and stunningly beautiful plant from the very high Andes in Ecuador, Chile and Peru, discovered by two Spanish botanists in the 1700s.. The foliage is completely different from any other plant in this huge family being arrow shaped and very long and elegant and would make a lovely foliage plant in its own right, however  the spires of brilliant blue flowers appear either in summer or spring

I say this because these plants, grown by me in Wales for two years,  think they are still in the Andes and so for me have only flowered in their 'summer' i.e. our spring! Reference books assure me flowers can be had in the summer so I await with interest

Update - good flowers in late summer 2020 - they've moved to the uk at last!

I don't  think they will grow to the 7-8 foot  that they apparently do in the wild  (my largest plant is just under a metre)but nevertheless a very handsome and intriguing plant and a real talking point - I can almost guarantee that your neighbours won't have this one!