Salvia, Indigo Spires
Scientific Name: Salvia x ‘Indigo Spires’
NOTE: No shipping / pickup only
History/general species info: Introduced in 1979 by California's Huntingon Botanical Garden as a cross between mealy blue sage (Salvia farinacea) and Salvia longispicata.
Characteristics: Small shrub. Evergreen. Perennial. Dark green leaves with foot-long spikes of purplish-blue nectar rich are a favorite of hummingbirds and all pollinators. Works well as a container plant. The attractive flowers are almost iridescent in the fall, and they dry quite well and hold their color for flower arrangements.
Flower: Purple
Planting / Care: Small shrub. Fast growing in sand, loam, clay, and caliche. Deer resistant. Not salt tolerant. Low to medium water requirement once established. To keep it tidy, trim back by a third in warm weather; spring deadheading of the flower stalks encourages fresh blooms.
Height: 3-4’
Spread: 5’
Light requirement: Sun. Part shade
Wildlife: Hummingbirds, Butterflies, bees, bumblebees
Links:
Texas A&M - Aggie Horticulture
https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/southerngarden/cutpm.pdf
University of Florida
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fp530
Photo credit: Ernie Edmonson
