Forgot to mention I also have blue perennial salvia - one unnamed, the other variety is May Night.

Actually, they don't cross that much in their native microclimate. If they just happen to bloom at the same time, different pollinators will be involved. This applies to widely different sages.

With hybrid swarms, like the greggii/microphylla cases, the plants are already closely related.

In a planting in a location different from home, bloom times and other flowering variables also differ, as do the pollinators. This improves chances of crosses, but does not solve innate incompatibilities with pollen, chromosome numbers, etc.

I think the rule of thumb is to do the same cross 100 times with the de minimis threshold of 5 chances of pollination leading to seed setting, then successfully germinating the seed.

Natural chance crosses can be good, but you won't know who was the father plant, and can only assume the mother plant, based on proximity.

I appreciate it. Have not given the plants closeup study as yet with my Optivisor (essential tool, especially these days when my eyesight needs all the help it can get), but will get down there on my hands and knees and see what's what. OK, just went out and did that. As far as I can see, it seems pretty straight forward, seeing as how I can see both pistil and anthers. What the hey - will make the attempt.

Just checked an online PDF about salvias. They do seem to have chromosome counts across the board, don't they? Hmmm... Well, never hurts to make the attempt, I guess, as I will already be out there with my brushes in hand, working on my other crosses. Thanks again, salvia86. You the man.

- Alex