Salvia guaranitica
Anise-scented sage
Also known as Salvia ambigens, Salvia concolor misapplied, Salvia caerulea misapplied
- Height × spread
- 1.8m × 1.4m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Mild winter to -5C (RHS H3)
- Flowers
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
A beautiful and substantial plant that is found over a wide part of South America. It flowers all through summer, going well into autumn. The leaves are covered in white wool when young, maturing to dark green. They form a solid base for the long flowering spikes that have smallish dark blue flowers that open from green-purple calyces. It is possible to cut the plant back hard in late summer so that attractive young foliage regrows. The foliage, when bruised, has the scent of anise. It has been grown as a backdrop to pink roses. This is a perennial in character but is sometimes treated as an annual, valued for its rapid growth. It is too tender to overwinter outside except in warmer areas.
- Flower colour
- Blue
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Spring foliage
- White
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- Yes
- Shape
- Column
- Height
- 1.8m
- Spread
- 1.4m
- Season of interest
- Summer, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Seaside garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Mild winter to -5C (RHS H3)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Use for
- Bee attraction
- Maintenance
- Easycare – low/no maintenance
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water to keep the soil moist
For best results, this plant needs soil that is always moist. Water deeply and regularly as soon as soil appears dry. Even for established plants in the ground, a dry week can cause problems with some soils. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather. Or install an automatic irrigation system which will do the hard work for you, even when you are away on holiday.
Without regular watering some plants never fully regain their beauty.
Spring - mid-late · Planting
Trim the plant
Trim the plant to give it a general tidy. This includes removing any lengthy or awkward shoots that make the plant look visually less attractive. Remove any spent flower heads at the same time.
Planting & general
Compost · Planting
Loam based compost + grit for repotting
Use a free draining loam based compost rather than one which has been modified to be 'moisture retentive'.
Alternatively prepare a compost using three parts of loam (John Innes no. 2 or 3) to one part of (horticultural) sand or fine (horticultural) grit.
Found in
More Salvia
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Sage
Salvia 'Amistad'
Sage
Salvia 'Hot Lips'
Cherry sage, James hybrid salvia
Salvia 'Royal Bumble'
Hybrid sage, Autumn sage, Texas sage
Salvia 'Wendy's Wish'
Hybrid sage
Salvia Rockin'® Deep Purple = 'BBSAL09001'
Hybrid perennial sage
Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'
Anise-scented sage
Salvia microphylla
Cherry sage, Graham's sage