French Lavender (Lavandula dentata), Buddleia (Buddleja davidii 'Harlequin') and Mexican Sage (Salvia leucantha) are presently filling the Sensory Gardens at the Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden with rich purple flowers.
Coincidentally purple is an important colour during the Christian festival of Lent (5 March – 17 April). Purple is associated with mourning and so anticipates the pain and suffering of the crucifixion. It is also the colour associated with royalty, and celebrates Christ's resurrection and sovereignty.
The most striking of the purple flowers in the Sensory Gardens are those belonging to the Mexican Sage, a herbaceous perennial that is native to subtropical and tropical conifer forests in central and eastern Mexico. The arching velvety purple clusters of flowers set against its soft mid-green leaves are very attractive.
Salvia is the largest genus of plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae, with nearly 1000 species of shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and annuals. The name Salvia derives from the Latin salvere ("to feel well and healthy, health, heal"), the verb related to salus (health, well-being, prosperity or salvation); referring to the herb's healing properties. Pliny the Elder (AD 23 – August 25, AD 79), a Roman philosopher was the first author known to describe a plant called "Salvia". It is likely that he was referring to Common or Garden Sage (Salvia officinalis). Common Sage has a long history of culinary and medicinal use.
Another eye-catching plant in the Sensory Gardens is the Japanese Blood Grass (Imperata cylindrica 'Rubra’). The leaves of this unusual and dramatic grass are green at the base with red tips that almost appear to glow. It has been used as a highly effective and attractive edging near the pond.
The plants in the Sensory Gardens have been carefully chosen to ensure that the garden is full of colour throughout the winter months.
By Ian McAlister & Karen Hagan