Salvia 'Love and Wishes'®

Planting and Positioning

Salvia ‘Love and Wishes’ is a striking, long-flowering perennial with rich magenta-purple blooms held on dark stems above aromatic foliage. Part of the popular “Wish” series, this compact, bushy variety brings colour and pollinator interest from late spring through to autumn.

• Preferred Location: Plant in a sunny, sheltered position. Full sun encourages the best flowering and helps keep the plant compact and bushy.

• Soil Requirements: Prefers well-drained, moderately fertile soil. Avoid heavy clay or waterlogged conditions, as excess moisture can lead to root rot.

• Soil Preparation: Before planting, improve soil with organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure to increase fertility and improve drainage.

• Planting Depth: Plant at the same depth as the pot. Firm in lightly and water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil around the roots.

• Spacing: Allow about 40 to 60 cm between plants to give them room to grow and ensure good air circulation.

• Best Planting Time: Ideal planting is in spring or early summer, after the risk of frost has passed, allowing time for roots to establish.

• Container Friendly: Perfect for pots and containers. Choose a container with good drainage holes and use a free-draining compost mix.

Ongoing Care and Maintenance

Once established, Salvia ‘Love and Wishes’ is easy to maintain and highly rewarding. With basic care, it will produce vibrant flowers for months and serve as a magnet for bees, butterflies, and hummingbird-like insects.

• Watering: Keep well-watered during dry spells, particularly in the first growing season or when grown in containers. Once established, it becomes fairly drought-tolerant.

• Feeding: Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in spring. A fortnightly liquid feed during the flowering season will further boost blooms.

• Deadheading: Regularly remove spent flower spikes to encourage continuous flowering and to maintain a neat appearance.

• Mulching: Apply mulch in spring to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Keep mulch clear of the stem base to avoid rotting.

• Aromatic Foliage: Lightly brushing the foliage releases a pleasant scent. The leaves also help repel some pests.

• Pollinator Friendly: The deep-throated flowers are especially attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbird hawk-moths, making it excellent for wildlife gardens.

• Low Maintenance: Requires minimal input once established and is generally resistant to common pests and diseases.

Pruning, Overwintering and Long-Term Care

To ensure a healthy, long-lived plant, Salvia ‘Love and Wishes’ benefits from seasonal pruning and a bit of winter protection in cooler climates.

• Mid-Season Pruning: Lightly trim back in mid-summer if the plant becomes leggy. This can encourage a fresh flush of growth and flowers.

• End-of-Season Cutback: In late autumn, once flowering is over and the plant begins to die back, cut back stems to around 10–15 cm above ground. Alternatively, leave the stems for winter protection and tidy in early spring.

• Winter Protection: While frost hardy in mild areas, in colder regions, provide a mulch layer over the root zone in late autumn. In severe winters, it may be best to overwinter in a greenhouse or bring container plants indoors.

• Regrowth in Spring: Growth may be slow to emerge in spring. Be patient—new shoots will appear once temperatures warm consistently.

• Dividing and Rejuvenation: After several years, if the plant becomes woody or sparse, consider propagating from cuttings or replacing with new stock rather than dividing, as Salvias do not always respond well to root disturbance.

• Pests and Diseases: Generally pest-free, though young growth may occasionally attract aphids. Good airflow and proper spacing help prevent mildew and rot.

Salvia ‘Love and Wishes’ offers exceptional garden performance, flowering from early summer well into autumn with minimal maintenance. Its vivid blooms, aromatic foliage, and pollinator appeal make it a standout in borders, patio containers, and wildlife gardens. With the right care and a sunny spot, it will reward gardeners with colour, movement, and beauty throughout the growing season

• Size
  2 Ltr pot

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

Click here for more information about our shipping conditions.

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If you have any further questions about the online order payment please contact us via ­069 640 84 or mail.