Salvia ‘Black & Blue’

Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’

Characteristics

Culture

Salvia ‘Black & Blue’ has electric blue flowers contrast sharply with the black stems in summer. Winter hardy to USDA Zones 8-10. Grow in average, evenly moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. It prefers organically rich loams. If grown in too much shade, plant stems tend to elongate and fall over. Plant height can be reduced by cutting back stems in late spring. Although species plants may be grown from seed started indoors before last spring frost date, this cultivar should be propagated from cuttings. Set out plants after last frost date. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage additional bloom. If desired, cut back and pot up several plants in fall or take cuttings in late summer for overwintering in a bright but cool sunny window.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Salvia guaranitica is native to Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina. It is a tender perennial or subshrub that exhibits a bushy, somewhat open habit with upright, branching, square, dark green stems typically growing 3-5’ tall. Two-lipped, tubular, deep blue flowers with purple-blue calyxes bloom in axillary and terminal spikes from mid-summer into fall. Ovate, wrinkled, pointed, lightly-toothed, dark green leaves are pale green below. Plants may grow to as much as 6’ tall in optimum conditions where winter hardy. Plants are sometimes commonly called blue anise sage or anise scented sage. When bruised, the foliage has a very mild aroma that has very little if any anise scent.  The genus name Salvia comes from the Latin word salveo meaning “to save or heal”, in reference to the purported medically curative properties attributed to some plants in the genus. ‘Black and Blue’ is a cultivar that features deep cobalt blue flowers with black calyces. Flowers appear on spikes to 15” long over a long mid-summer to fall bloom.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Susceptible to downy and powdery mildew.

Garden Uses

Beds, borders and cottage gardens. Containers. Annual for areas north of USDA Zone 8.