About
A bushy upright perennial with dark green, lyre-shaped leaves and slender spikes of small, violet-blue flowers in summer.
About the genus
Salvia can be annuals, biennials, herbaceous or evergreen perennials, or shrubs. They have paired, simple or pinnately lobed, often aromatic leaves and 2-lipped flowers in whorls, forming simple or branched spikes or racemes
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectWest-facing, South-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCoastal, City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants, Gravel garden, Mediterranean climate plants, Wildlife gardens
Native toEurope to Russia
Care notes
CultivationGrow in well-drained soil and full sun with shelter from cold, drying winds
PruningCut back faded flower spikes to prolong flowering
PropagationPropagate by seed in spring. Take basal stem cuttings in late spring; stem-tip cuttings in late summer or in early autumn and propagate by division in spring
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to slugs and snails, aphids, capsid bug, leafhoppers and rosemary beetle may damage young growth
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), powdery mildews, verticillium wilt and foot and root rots