garden
Salvia microphylla
Subshrubs AT LE JARDIN CRÉATIF WE GROW A WIDE RANGE OF SUBSHRUBS AND I OFTEN GET ASKED ABOUT THE DEFINITION.
B
Abutilon) while others that come from otanically they are somewhere more temperate climates can survive down between a true shrub (which has a to minus 8 or 10 degrees, (Salvia, permanent woody framework) and a Penstemon, hardy Fuchsias) with lots of herbaceous perennial (which has soft, non variation in between. Some are mostly woody growth and generally dies back to woody with less herbaceous growth while the ground while dormant, re-growing others are mainly herbaceous developing from ground level each year). A subshrub woody stems just at the very base of will typically develop a woody base and the plant. herbaceous top growth. This is The thing that makes because they They tend to have a very this group of plants originate mainly long flowering season and such good value in from warm climates the garden is that give a good display from where the growing they tend to have a early May right through to season is long, and very long flowering they have not had to the first hard frosts season and give a adapt to full good display from dormancy for early May right the winter. through to the first hard frosts (often still in full flower in November), they are loved Some subshrubs coming from climates by the butterflies and bees, and many have where the temperature never goes below aromatic foliage and medicinal or culinary zero are still very tender and need winter uses. They are fairly easy to care for and if protection, (such as Pelargonium sp. and
By Caroline Wright
Caroline has been a lecturer in horticulture for 20 years and is now running a nursery and 'garden craft' courses in the Haute-Vienne at Le jardin creatif Lejardincreatif.net
you choose the right varieties, they are very well suited to the climate here in south west France, tolerating the hot, dry summers, but they can suffer from excessive wet in the winter and will get a bit of frost damage to the soft growth at the tips. The key to success is not to cut them back too early because the top growth protects the base of the plant during the coldest weather and if they are cut back too early it can induce soft growth from the base which is susceptible to late frosts. I generally wait until May to cut them back. Penstemons can be cut quite hard, while Salvia’s can be given a lighter touch allowing them to develop into small bushes. You will normally be able to see healthy buds and small shoots low down on the plant and you can cut them back to just above these to promote fresh new growth and remove any damaged stems from over the winter.
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