Little Night Salvia

Ornamental sages, which most gardeners call ‘salvia’ are some of the most useful perennials, bringing wonderful blues and purples to your beds from late spring into early fall. Problem is, many of them are just a bit tall and floppy for smaller gardens, small beds and for pots and planter boxes. An old favorite is called ‘May Night’, and lovely as it is, it too can be a bit tall and floppy. That’s why we got so excited when we heard about the Little Night Salvia, because this is just what you need – a more compact, bushy version of the May Night Salvia. Standing just a foot tall in bloom, it has the same intense, midnight-blue flower coloring, but with smaller leaves and shorter flower spikes. Use it wherever you want to blend with yellows, pinks, reds or purples – blue is so great because it goes with all other colors, binding your beds together in a tapestry of many colors. Sun loving and drought tolerant, use it at the front of perennial beds, to fill the foreground of shrub beds, in natural, meadow gardens, and in pots and tubs, mixed with other flowers. The perfect choice for limited space, and so very beautiful.

• Deep blue spikes of flowers from late spring to fall
• A compact form of the well-known May Night Salvia
• Excellent tolerance of heat and drought, once established
• Warm, sage-green foliage with a pleasant aroma
• Ideal for beds, and for planter boxes too

For maximum blooming over the longest period, plant the Little Night Salvia in full sun. It will tolerate a little shade, but flowering may be reduced if there is too much. Plant it in any well-drained soil, including drier, sandy soils. It’s a great choice for alkaline and limestone soils too. Avoid wet areas, especially in colder zones. Some dead-heading of old flower spikes will encourage new ones, and keep your plant looking great. It is normal for flowering to slow down during the maximum heat of summer, returning when the temperatures fall a little. This plant is avoided by deer and rabbits, and almost never has any pest or disease problems. Cut the stems right to the ground in late fall, spreading a little compost around the roots, ready for the new growth the next spring.