Salvia gesneriflora facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Salvia gesneriflora |
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Salvia gesneriflora is a beautiful plant often called a "salvia." It's a type of plant that lives for many years. It can be a herbaceous perennial plant (meaning it has soft stems and comes back each year) or a subshrub (a small, woody plant). This plant grows naturally in the mountains of Mexico, high up at about 2,286 to 3,048 meters (7,500 to 10,000 feet) above sea level. Its long, tube-shaped flowers look a lot like the flowers of another plant called Gesneria. Many people like to grow Salvia gesneriflora in their gardens because it's so pretty.
About the Salvia Plant
In its natural home, Salvia gesneriflora can grow quite tall. It can reach up to 7.6 meters (25 feet) high! However, when people grow it in gardens, it usually stays smaller. It only gets about 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall and 0.9 to 1.2 meters (3 to 4 feet) wide. This is because strong winds can break its branches. Gardeners also trim it to keep it from breaking.
This plant has many woody stems. Its leaves are shaped like hearts and are a medium green color. They also have a strong, pleasant smell. The leaves get smaller as they go up the stem.
Flowers and Blooming Time
The flowers of Salvia gesneriflora are large and colorful. Each flower can be about 3.8 centimeters (1.5 inches) long. They are a bright orange-red color. The flowers are held in a yellow-green cup-like structure called a calyx. This calyx often has purple dots.
The flowers grow in groups, close together, on long stems called inflorescences. These stems are about 20 to 30 centimeters (8 to 12 inches) long. Salvia gesneriflora blooms in late winter and early spring. After it finishes blooming, it's a good idea to trim the plant back. This helps it grow strong again. It can grow back to about 1.8 meters (6 feet) in just one growing season.
Different Types of Salvia
In 1970, scientists from the Huntington Botanical Gardens went to Mexico. They found two different kinds of Salvia gesneriflora. One type had the usual green calyx (the cup around the flower). The other type had a purple calyx and purple stems. This purple type was given a special name, 'Tequila'.
Later, around 1979, a new plant grew from a 'Tequila' seed. It was named 'Mole Poblano'. However, some people think that 'Mole Poblano' is actually the same as 'Tequila'.
