A Tale of Three Salvias

Every spring I plant several different annuals amongst my perennials and vegetables, and one that I return to faithfully, year after year, is the humble salvia. In today’s blog, I’ll talk about three different salvias that I planted and enjoyed this summer.

Ornamental sage or salvia is also known by the not-so-glamorous name of Mealycup Sage because of the powdery, meal-like coating on the flowers. Native to Texas and Mexico where they can grow into sizable shrubs, they are commonly used in the north as tough and reliable annual bedding plants.

Salvias are invaluable in the garden for their showy long flower spikes in shades of red, white, pink and blue which bloom non-stop until frost. They aren’t bothered by insect pests, tolerate a wide range of soils, grow in sun to part shade, and are heat and drought tolerant. Deer and rabbits also avoid them which is always a plus in my neck of the woods.

Since my late summer gardens are filled with the open, disc-like flowers of zinnias, marigolds, coneflowers and rudbeckia, the long spiky blue and purple flowers of my featured salvias provide a much-needed contrast in color and form. In addition, the bees and butterflies love them and hummingbirds can’t stay away!

I’ve always had a weakness for blue flowers and several years ago I fell in love with salvia, ‘Victoria Blue.’ About 18 inches tall, and perfectly sized for growing in pots as a focal point, ‘Victoria Blue’ also makes a stellar companion for hot-colored annuals in the garden.

In addition to my old friend, Victoria, I treated myself to two new salvias this year which I have never grown before – one blue and the other a deep purple. They are both Proven Winners varieties, a name I have come to trust for plants that don’t disappoint.

Salvia, ‘Rockin Playin The Blues,’ is very similar in appearance and habit to ‘Victoria Blue’ but grows much larger in size, from 24 to 48 inches tall. I thought this plant would be perfect next to my tall black-eyed Susans and I wasn’t mistaken.

The third salvia I planted this year is called ‘Rockin Deep Purple,’ an even taller variety that grows up to 40 inches with flower stalks of such a deep purple that they appear almost black when in bud. Stunning with tall white ‘David’ phlox and rosy pink spider flowers, ‘Rockin Deep Purple’ is a striking presence in my late summer garden!

With salvias, late summer into fall color combinations are almost endless. Try pairing with purple fountain grass, coreopsis, dahlias, autumn sedums and more!

Did you know that salvias can also be dried for fall arrangements? ‘Victoria Blue’ works especially well for drying, similar to lavender. Simply cut the flower stalks to the desired length when at their peak. Mid-morning on a sunny day is the best time to do this, after any dew has dried from the plants. Gather a small bunch of stems, tie with string and hang the bundles upside down and away from direct sunlight but where air can circulate around them. A wire coat hanger is great for this and can hold 3 to 4 bundles evenly spaced. Give them a couple of weeks to dry thoroughly and then use with other dried flowers in bouquets or wreaths!

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