Growing Strata Salvia Garden Seeds
- Taxonomy: Salvia farinacea
- Seed Type: Annual (perennial in optimal humid climates)
- Sow Indoors or Outdoors: Most home gardens do not have the warm, humid conditions needed to sow salvia Strata seeds directly outside and plants will not likely bloom. Begin seeds indoors 10 – 12 weeks before final frost. Seeds will germinate with full lighting in 10 – 30 days. Once germinated, transplant seedlings to indoor container or harden off if transplanting outside to a warm, suitable environment.
- Days to Maturity: 98 - 112 days
- Hardiness Zone: 8 - 10
- Planting Depth: Plant 3 – 4 seeds ¼” deep
- Plant Spacing: 12 - 18”
- Growth Habit: 18 – 24” tall bushy upright 12 – 18” wide covered in bicolored floret spikes
- Soil Preference: Average, evenly moist, well-drained
- Light Preference: Full sun - partial shade
- Diseases/Pests/Troubleshooting: Strata Series is known to tolerate some drought and poor soils, but thrives in moist, well-drained soil. Plants can be susceptible to downy and powdery mildew. Avoid overhead watering by watering soil directly to minimize wetting foliage. Salvia plants have no serious pests or diseases.
- Color: White calyx and blue corolla bicolored spikes with rich leafy greens
Most home gardens do not have the warm, humid conditions necessary to sow Strata seeds directly outside and plants may not likely bloom. Begin salvia Strata seeds indoors 10 – 12 weeks before final frost. Seeds will germinate with full lighting in 10 – 30 days. Once germinated, transplant salvia seedlings to indoor container or harden off if transplanting outside to a suitable environment. For gardens with optimal conditions, sow 3 – 4 salvia Strata seeds ¼” deep with 12 – 18” apart in average, evenly moist, and well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Strata salvia is known to tolerate heat and drought but can be susceptible to downy and powdery mildew. Avoid overhead watering by watering soil directly to minimize wetting foliage. Salvia plants have no serious pests or diseases. Salvia Strata seeds mature in 98 – 112 days as 18 – 24” tall bushy uprights with a 12 – 18” spread covered in white calyx and blue corolla bicolored spikes with rich leafy greens.
Strata salvia is a 1996 All-American Selections (AAS) Flower Winner and 1996 Fleuroselect Gold Medal Winner noted by judges for its unique bicolor combination, garden performance, pest and disease resistance, and its tolerance to severe conditions including heat, drought, and rain.