Salvia ‘Indigo Spires’

Salvia ‘Indigo Spires’

Characteristics

Culture

One of the most popular plants for the garden, Salvia ‘Indigo Spires’ is hardy and provides months of striking color.  Plant in full sun to light shade and well-drained soil. This salvia benefits from winter protection in Zone 7. It can also be grown in a large container and moved to a protected location when temperatures drop.  If your Salvia or Sage starts to look unkempt in mid to late summer, consider giving it a light shearing or remove the spent flowering spikes to help promote new growth and flower production. An application of fertilizer at this time may also be beneficial in spurring flower production.

Noteworthy Characteristics

‘Indigo Spires’ Salvia (a/k/a Indigo Spires Sage) is a vigorous hybrid prized for its 12- to 15-inch-long, twisting spikes of dark violet flowers. It is a nonstop bloomer from early summer through fall. Blooming can be further encouraged by pinching stem tips early in the growing season and deadheading the spikes once they fade. ‘Indigo Spires’ quickly grows to 4 feet high and can be grown as an annual where it is not hardy.

Salvia ‘Indigo Spires’ is a hybrid cross between S. longispicata and S. farinacea. It was a chance discovery at Huntington Botanical Gardens, found growing near the two presumed parents, S. longispicata and S. farinacea. Introduced into horticulture in 1979, and has become a very popular bedding plant.

Problems

No serious pests are normally seen on the plant.

Garden Uses

Mass plantings, Beds, Borders, Patio, Containers.  Great as a cut flower or use in dried flower arrangement.