Harry
are you sure it was lady in red and not Salvia splendens which is what is being offered now by the garden centers. Lady in Red is normally way to big for 6 paks by the time they reach bloom size. I have never seen them in anyting smaller than a six inch pot. My Lady in Red seedlings are in six paks right now but they only have 3-4 sets of leaves and are ready to be bumped up to 3 inch pots because of their large root system. My scarlet sage has already been moved up to larger pots but still no where near bloom size.

Penny

Harry
Here is a picture of salvia splendens also called Scarlet Sage

Here is a picture of Salvia coccinea 'Lady in Red' which is the True Scarlet Sage

If you look closely at both pictures you will see that the Lady in Red has an obvious protuding lower lip where as the splendens does not have that large lower lip.

Penny

They had them both right next to each other. I grew Lady In Red last year. Believe me, I wouldn't get all excited for nothing.

Today at lunch I tried aother nursery and found a blue agastache which I think is called Blue Fortune. I also bought a plant they had labled as Lipstick. It looked like the Cuphea I bought last year except that the blooms are twice the size and are not perfect tubes but have a protruding lower lip.

I still can't find salvia Black and Blue. May have to go mailorder for this one.

Well good for you Harry. I just picked up two qt. pots of Lady in Red at a local wal mart for 1.96 each. They have 3 plants to a pot which i will seperate as soon as I can plant them out. I also have a flat of 36 that I grew from seed ready to be planted. I don't have room for even half of them ....what was I thinking! I also picked up an Agastache Apricot Sunrise at a local nursery in a 3 4 inch pot.

Now as for the Black and Blue if you go online to buy one (they are hard to find locally in the northeast). try Rich Dufresne's website http://www.eclectasy.com/gallery_of_salvias/
He is a plant breeder and though he sells to the trade he also sells to us little guys at great prices. He may still have some B&B left.

Penny

Do you think Lipstick is a cuphea? Those orange and yellow flowers look perfect for hummer dining. I'll have to take a picture.

If it is a true {{gwi:980239}} it is a gesneriad and not a cuphea. The one in the picture has all red flowers but their is a red and yellow variety.
Penny

Harry
You have mail.

Penny

Penny,
Comparing your photo to the plants I bought. The flowers look somewhat similar, but the foliage if smaller and finer. In your picture, it almost looks like a succulant.

I called John Dufresne as you recommended. He's great. He has bred many salvias and other plants as well. I ordered eight plants. The four Salvia Black and Blue I was looking for and 4 more at his choosing. After talking to him for a few minutes, I knew I could trust his judgement. All of us should support suppliers like John.

Harry
I am so glad that you were able to get the B&B and other plants from Rich. He really knows his plants and I would go to him first over any nursery in the country. You know that what you ordered will be indeed what you get...no incorrectly labeled plants or surprises with Rich.

Penny

But why did I call him John? I had to rush and look at my check book to make sure I sent him a good check. He's Richard on my check. Whew!

Richard Dufresne has many interesting plants that I cannot get locally. He has bred some great ones including Agastache Tutti Frutti.

Penny, thank you for all your help. I'll post a picture of my new plants over the weekend.

I look forward to seeing the pics Harry!

Penny

Harry,
Well I talked with Rich after you placed your order regarding some salvias that I am trialing this year and ended up ordering a couple of his new Raspberry truffles. I am realling looking forward to getting them.

They will probably arrive in just the right planting time now that it seems to be finally warming up around here.

Penny

Here's a picture of the plant that was labled simply "Lipstick". Those flowers are 3" long.

{{gwi:980240}}

In this second picture it is planted next to Cuphea Hyssopifolia. The foliage is similar, though not nearly as shiney. I doubt this plant will be interesting to hummers as the flowers are tiny. It is known as False Heather.

Harry
I am pretty sure that your plant is Aeschynanthus speciosus and the common name is lipstick plant. It is also a gesneriad. Here is a link

Penny

Here is a link that might be useful: Aeschynanthus speciosus

I hope not. I left the poor babies in the sun all weekend and it was cloudless. I will move them into the semi shade tonight.

Thanks Penny.

You are most welcome.

Penny

I too just found six-packs of just blooming Salvia coccinea 'Lady in Red.' They're already in the ground, and look great!! I've searched for the Black and Blue, and have just resorted to mail order. Good luck! Christy

I found Lady in Red in four-packs here for $1.59! I put them on my Mother's Day list and then went back and bought them for myself instead because I was afraid they would run out before then. lol I had been to several nurseries looking for it in ANY size but couldn't find it so I was thrilled to be able to buy it cheap.
I found salvia darcyi at a Master Gardener's sale over the weekend too. : )
I've also been searching for Black and Blue with no luck.

Harry, I believe your Lipstick plant is not Aeschynanthus, but a Columnea (also a Gesneriad). Columneas are native to Central and South America, so it wouldn't be suprising to see the little guys use them. The Gesneriad that has worked best for me is Streptocarpella, often sold as a specialty annual in these parts. The flowers are generally blue, and it also makes a nice hanging basket. One other Gesnariad I've tried is Nematanthus, which some sites claim to be attractive to Hummingbirds, but I've not had much luck with them (or Aeschynanthus, for that matter). Still, it's fun to try all of them! Here's to Happy Hummingbirds! :)