Salvia ‘Wendy’s Wish’
Salvia ‘Wendy’s Wish’ is a bold, long-flowering perennial that brings vibrant colour and graceful form to borders and containers. With its unique magenta-pink flowers held on dark stems above lush, glossy foliage, this eye-catching salvia is part of the renowned "Wish" series bred for extended blooming and strong garden performance. Loved by pollinators and gardeners alike, ‘Wendy’s Wish’ provides reliable impact from late spring until the first frosts, making it a fantastic addition to any sunny space.
Key Features
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Botanical name: Salvia ‘Wendy’s Wish’
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Common name: Wendy’s Wish sage
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Plant type: Half-hardy herbaceous perennial
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Height: 1m
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Spread: 0.6m
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Flowering time: Late spring to first frosts (July to October)
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Magenta-pink, tubular flowers with dusky calyces and striking dark stems
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Bushy, upright habit with lush, glossy green foliage
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Low-maintenance: Deadhead to prolong flowering; cut back in spring
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Hardiness: Hardy in the UK down to temperatures of -5 degrees Celcius (RHS hardiness rating H3)
Growth & Habit
‘Wendy’s Wish’ forms a vigorous, upright clump of glossy, mid-green foliage. Tall, branching stems emerge in early summer, topped with clusters of vivid magenta-pink flowers that continue blooming for months. The plant’s dark stems and calyces add depth and contrast to the bright flowers, creating a rich, layered look that stands out in any planting scheme.
Planting Advice
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Position: Full sun is essential for best performance and flowering. Choose a sheltered site in cooler areas.
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Potted: Suitable for planting at any time of year when the soil is workable and frost-free.
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Soil: Prefers fertile, well-drained soil. Avoid heavy clay or overly wet sites.
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Planting Depth: Plant at the same depth as in its pot. Water well after planting.
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Spacing: Space 60–75cm apart to allow for healthy air flow and natural spread.
Ideal for containers, central border positions, or bold colour highlights in mixed planting schemes.
Care & Maintenance
‘Wendy’s Wish’ is low-maintenance and rewards regular deadheading with an extended flowering season. Water during dry spells, particularly in the first year or in pots. In colder regions, lift and overwinter in a frost-free location or protect with mulch if planted in the ground. In early spring, cut back all old growth to just above ground level to encourage fresh shoots.
Uses in the Garden
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Excellent for sunny borders, patio containers, and pollinator-friendly planting
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A showy centrepiece in summer bedding or mixed perennial displays
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Perfect for Mediterranean-style gardens and hot colour schemes
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Pairs beautifully with ornamental grasses, dahlias, rudbeckias, and other salvias
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Provides continuous colour and vertical interest for months on end
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Ideal for attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbird hawk-moths
Salvia ‘Wendy’s Wish’ is a striking, long-blooming favourite that delivers beauty, pollinator value, and ease of care. Whether grown in borders or containers, its vivid flowers and tidy habit make it a reliable highlight throughout the summer and into autumn. A perfect pick for gardeners seeking bold colour with minimal fuss.
Buying Perennials from Jacksons Nurseries
At Jacksons Nurseries we lightly trim back our perennials after flowering and trim them back at the end of the season to ensure that the plants remain neat and tidy whilst in the pot. The more tender the plant the less we cut back to help protect exposed stems from winter frost. Depending on the plant variety we will then prune back further in spring once the risk of the more severe frosts is over.
As a result, depending on the time of year you buy perennials, they may not look like images showing their ‘prime time’ in flower and looking at their best.
From late autumn onwards and dependent on variety, there may be very little visible above the soil except for a few cut back dormant leaves or stems. It is perfectly normal for dormant plants to look like this from autumn onwards, they will however burst back into life in spring.
Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.
Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email sales@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.
Perennials are described and classified differently by different gardeners but all would agree that they are plants that come into flower every year from early spring to late summer, the exact time dependent on variety and most die back to ground level in autumn and winter.
As for all plants, soil preparation is time well spent. Dig over the area to be planted ensuring that the ground is free draining. If not then you may wish to either consider planting in a different spot or raising the level of the planting area by adding additional topsoil, well rotted garden compost and/or well rotted manure. Add ‘Fish, Blood and Bone’ fertiliser or a high potash fertiliser to encourage good root growth and development.
It’s always a good idea to plant a few of the same plant together, we recommend planting in 3’s or 5’s to provide a bold effect but allowing them plenty of room to develop.
Always check eventual plant heights when planning borders to ensure that the taller plants are at the back (or at the centre of an island bed) followed by the medium and then smaller low growing plants.
Remember to deadhead perennials after flowering, trim back lightly in autumn as required to tidy the border and if necessary trim again in spring once the risk of heavy frost has passed.
If perennials get too big, start to flower less and less or if it seems to be dying off from the centre, consider dividing the plant but always check that the particular variety is happy to be divided and that you divide at the right time of year for the plant.
By using this simple guide and a little time, perennials can make an absolutely spectacular difference to your garden.
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In stock
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£6.99 | ||
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£9.99 |