Salvia sylvestris Lyrical Rose Balyricose

The Salvia nemorosa 'Lyrical Rose' or Salvia x sylvestris 'Balyricose' is a variety of compact wood sage with long and abundant pink flowering. It forms a small, well-branched bushy clump, has aromatic foliage, and blooms densely from early to late summer. Cold-resistant, low water-demanding, and tolerant of clay and limestone soils, this perennial is as generous as it is easy to grow. Excellent in flower beds or borders, and charming in a planter. It is visited by pollinating insects.

The Salvia nemorosa 'Lyrical Rose' is an American horticultural selection dating back to 2014 from the Lyrical series. It is a perennial of the mint family or labiates. Its wild ancestor, wood sage, is a native species of Central Europe and Western Asia. 'Lyrical Rose' forms a small bushy clump of leafy stems 50 to 60 cm (20 to 24in) tall when in bloom, with a spread of about 50 cm (20in). This perennial develops from a prostrate rosette of rough, dark green, ovate leaves with toothed edges that persist in winter. Flowering first begins in May-June, but new waves of flowers are offered between July and September, providing you take care to prune the faded flower spikes. The flowers are produced in terminal clusters composed of numerous small flowers (0.5 to 1 cm (0in)) of a light and vivid pink, encased in burgundy to purple bracts. This cheerful mix of colours is very fresh. The beautiful compact spikes with nectar-rich flowers delight butterflies. The base of the stems is often reddish.

This wood sage 'Lyrical Rose' is resistant to wind, cold, heat, and adapts to a wide range of soils. It will be superb in the company of blue, violet, or white salvias in a border. Also, associate this plant with ground cover roses ('Bees Paradise Pink', 'Opalia'', 'Nozomi') or with grey foliage. In a small flower bed, it will complement, for example, the 'Physocarpus opulifolius Lady in Red' with its beautiful purple foliage. It also pairs well with pink-flowered plants, such as the rosea hastate verbena, the shrubby mallow 'Barnsley', or the Penstemon 'Evelyn'. It is also perfect for composing flower beds and borders with the blue flowers of the Perovskia or perennial geraniums.

With over 900 species of annuals, perennials, and soft-wooded shrubs distributed throughout the world, except for very cold regions and tropical forests, the Salvia genus is the richest in the mint family. The name Salvia, dating back to Roman times, derives from the Latin salvus "healthy" alluding to the medicinal virtues of common sage.