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Salvia – the People’s Choice winners at RHS Hyde Hall

The people have spoken - we asked visitors to RHS Garden Hyde Hall this summer to choose their favourite varieties of salvia in the trial. The results are in...

From 94 salvia species and cultivars on trial, the clear winner of the People’s Choice vote was Salvia farinacea ‘Strata’; a compact cultivar with a distinctive white-blue colour combination.

Bi-colours, compact habits and the ability to attract bees were characteristics praised by visitors to the trial in the Floral Fantasia area of RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Essex. Among four closely-contested runners up, S. greggii MIRAGE™ Rose Bicolour took second place, another compact choice whose pink and white bicolour blooms are as attractive to pollinators as they were to visitors to the display.

Many people were blown away by the abundance of bees and pollinators in the trial area

Mandy Tout, Trials Coordinator

Salvia – People’s Choice Winners

© RHS / Mandy Tout
5 / 5
5th - Salvia viridis [Bouquet Mixed] 
Voters' comments include: beautiful contrast; bright & pretty
© RHS / Mandy Tout
1 / 5
1st - Salvia farinacea ‘Strata’
Voters' comments include: love the contrast; unusual, beautiful flowers
© RHS / Mandy Tout
2 / 5
2nd - Salvia greggii MIRAGE™ Rose Bicolour
Voters' comments include: pretty, delicate and unusual; like rhubarb and custard
© RHS / Mandy Tout
5 / 5
5th - Salvia viridis [Bouquet Mixed] 
Voters' comments include: beautiful contrast; bright & pretty
© RHS / Mandy Tout
1 / 5
1st - Salvia farinacea ‘Strata’
Voters' comments include: love the contrast; unusual, beautiful flowers
© RHS / Mandy Tout
2 / 5
2nd - Salvia greggii MIRAGE™ Rose Bicolour
Voters' comments include: pretty, delicate and unusual; like rhubarb and custard
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“Many people were blown away by the abundance of bees and pollinators in the trial area. It was nice to see the public so enthusiastic about this and even selecting their favourite salvia primarily on its ability to attract bees,” says Trials Coordinator Mandy Tout.

For the purposes of the RHS Trial judging, the plants were not deadheaded. “As we headed into September, the low-maintenance choices really came into their own,” says Mandy. “Gems such as MYSTIC SPIRES BLUE (‘Balsalmisp’) and MYSTIC SPIRES SKY BLUE both grew in popularity in the later part of the summer owing to their excellent staying power.”

The full results of the RHS Trial judging will be available soon. In 2024, Floral Fantasia, RHS Garden Hyde Hall held a sunflower trial and visitors could vote for their favourite Fleuroselect sunflowers (Helianthus) cultivars.
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