Abstract
Salvia L. is multipurpose aromatic plant, used in a wide range of industries, including pharmaceutical, cosmetics, food and above all, in ornamental gardening. The aim of this study is evaluation of essential oil content of ornamental Salvia L. species cultivated in experimental field of Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Horticulture in Lednice during two periods 2002-2004 and 2009- 2012. Variability of essential oil yield of 42 different taxa was monitored for 9 years. Essential oil content was determined via steam distillation, expressed as ml/kg. The lowest content for the entire period showed sample S. przewalskii, in year 2010 (content 0.02 ml/kg) and the highest content for the entire period showed sample S. officinalis ‘Extracta’, in year 2004 (22.90 ml/kg). The results of evaluation of essential oil content in Salvia L. are consistent with data in the literature comparing the case of subspecies and varieties of Salvia officinalis L. The average content of essential oil ranges from 6.51 to 19.20 ml/kg.