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Salvia 'Amistad' PP23,578 (Friendship Sage) - A medium size semi-shrubby perennial with fast growth in the warm seasons to reach 4 to 5+ feet tall by at least as wide with glossy green deltoid shaped leaves that are textured in a way reminiscent of Salvia guaranitica. In spring through well into fall and rising well above and out from the foliage are whorls of large rich royal purple flowers emerging from near black dark bracts.
Best grown in full to part sun along the coast or at least with protection from afternoon sun in warmer inland locations in a fast-draining soil with moderate to regular watering. Likes a garden location that does not become too cold in winter and will remain evergreen in frost free locations though claims are that it is root hardy to 18°F and possibly perennial down into USDA Zone 8. A showy plant for attracting hummingbirds and butterflies to the garden as a specimen or mass planting or as a large container plant. Though originally marketed as more compact then other guaranitica types such as the popular Salvia 'Purple Majesty', this plant has grown larger than originally thought, but its long flowering period and beautiful larger flowers compensate for this. It may need some mid-season pruning unless one has the space for it - otherwise trim back in early spring just as growth begins anew.
Salvia 'Amistad' was discovered by Rolando Uria, a agronomy professor at the University of Buenos Aires who, who found it at a plant sale in Argentina in 2005 and gave it to Robin Middleton. The patent was processed by Rodney Richards of New World Plants, who was successfully able to market it worldwide. In United States it holds US Plant Patent 23,578 issued on April 30, 2013. Rolando Uria published in garden blog his wish that this plant be freely shared with everybody, and this was why he named it Amistad, which in Spanish means "friendship. We have grown this very fine plant since 2014.
This information about Salvia 'Amistad' PP23,578 displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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