Salvia garipensis

Salvia garipensis is a branched, rounded shrub growing to 1,2 m in height. The stems are square in cross-section.

The leaves are notably variable; a fact confirmed by comparing plants from across the range of the plants wide distribution. Some are narrow and long, others elliptic while some are triangular or heart-shaped with rounded base. The edges are toothed, also irregularly notched. The leaf surface is green, rough and hairy.

Flowers are white or light blue and have the typical salvia two-lipped shape.

The plant is found in nature in southern Namibia and the Northern Cape, deserving the association in name with the great river, the Gariep, earlier known as the Orange. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (www.plantzafrica.com; http://redlist.sanbi.org).