Salvia pratensis 'Indigo' (Meadow Clary)

Overview

Salvia pratensis 'Indigo' is a garden plant in the genus Salvia, part of the Lamiaceae family. It typically grows around 1–1.5 metres tall.

About

Salvia pratensis 'Indigo' is a cultivated form of meadow clary in the Lamiaceae, producing an upright basal clump with tall flowering spikes. Plants typically reach about 1–1.5 m in height and carry rugose, toothed leaves on square, softly hairy stems. Flowering runs from June to September, the spikes opening from the base upwards. The inflorescences are branched and can reach around 30 cm in length.

About the genus

Salvia is the largest genus of plants in the sage family Lamiaceae, with just under 1,000 species of shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and annuals. Within the Lamiaceae, Salvia is part of the tribe Mentheae within the subfamily Nepetoideae. One of several genera commonly referred to as sage, it includes two widely used herbs, Salvia officinalis and Salvia rosmarinus.

Wikipedia contributors, "Salvia", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Salvia

In the garden

Salvia pratensis 'Indigo' is a cultivated selection of meadow clary (genus Salvia) within the mint family, native across parts of Europe, western Asia and northern Africa where it is found in meadows, scrub edges and the borders of woodland. It forms a compact basal rosette of textured leaves with branched, upright flowering spikes that may reach about 1–1.5 m tall and carry flowers along a spike up to roughly 30 cm long. Place the plant where its natural habit can be accommodated — open meadow-style beds, naturalistic borders or the edge of a shrub border mirror its wild preferences. Position it where the flower spikes can be seen and have air movement around the foliage; the sequence of bloom begins at the base of each spike and continues upwards between June and September. Give the clump room to develop so the basal leaves are not shaded out by taller neighbours. Its upright flowering stems provide vertical rhythm in a scheme of grasses and perennials, and cutting back finished spikes can keep the plant compact and tidy for the following season. The progressive opening from the base of the inflorescence ensures an extended display through the summer months.