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Blue and purple salvia together

15 years ago

Well,since I nixed the use of the lobelia in my full sun - crescent shaped bed, I decided on blue salvia and purple salvia planted together, staggered. The blue can reach 12" (or more, like it did there one year) and the purple around 10". I've planted both of these annuals more than once over the years and have always had great luck with them - even in the hottest of summers. My only concern is that the blue's foliage will crowd out the purple. Guess I'll find out come late June or early July. I'll try to post a photo.

One note, the two flats of purple were the last ones at the nursery and had already been pinched back - some of them severely. Normally salvia doesn't mind that so I'm optimistic.

Comments (4)

lindac
15 years ago
Sounds nice....but I think I would have added some bright red too...
schoolhouse_gw
Original Author
15 years ago
For some reason, I don't care for red in my garden. Unless it's a rosey shade, which is the color of the nasturtiums I plant every year - except this year. I planted a mahogany colored nasturtium. Will be interesting to see if they are actually a very dark red or indeed a deep brown/red. In one of my borders, I have blue eyed grass and magenta pinks planted together.

But, blue/purple/bright red would be a good color combination in someone else's garden. Thanks for the feedback.
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Salvia tend to like it drier than water-thirsty roses. Watering 2 days a week (depends how long you're watering and how much volume if you're on a drip) sounds fine for the roses, as you're near the coast. Plenty of water especially for now. But, that being said, with certain established roses, like Julia Child, they can get by nicely will less water than other roses. And some salvia can stand more water than other varieties. So, I was trying to find a salvia that didn't mind being wee bit wetter than they probably naturally like that was that deep bluish purple. It's the salvia I was more worried about, as I was going to have to water for the roses. I ended up ordering 4 different varieties and will simply make the decision when they arrive, and plant the rest in my yard in other places, since I (and the hummers) love salvia :-) Patty S.
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Patty, East Friesland is about 18 inches high, similar to May Night. I have May Night and a group of three plants is spectacular right now. They need sun. Mine are in full sun, all day long, so I wouldn't tuck them under the roses too far (but, I'm not in your zone, so perhaps the growing conditions are different enough to handle some shade). After blooming, I cut May Night (as well as Caradonna, Marcus--nemorosa varieties) back to the basal foliage. If you're looking for bloom all summer, perhaps you want to look at another salvia variety. My salvia farinacea Victoria Blue bloom from late April until frost. Those overwintered for me in all areas of my garden. No deadheading and just stunning all summer. I am familiar with Julia Child and Victoria Blue would be a great companion color. Cameron
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What about the Salvia Marcus. I think it is a nemarosa (sp?). It is a beautiful blue/purple color and looked very neat. It is smaller and I believe doesn't grow over 12", labled as 8". I had some but exchanged it for something bigger. Now I want to go back and get the Marcus for another area that I think would do better then the annual salvias that I have planted.
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kioni
15 years ago
If that's what you were asking, is for a third colour.... how about some dusty miller? Or something white, I've read white is great for 'gluing' other colours together, or giving the eye a rest between shades, and it might accentuate the blues and purples.

Can't wait to see photos, I've not been brave enough yet to do a big block of one colour yet, and I'd love to do blue, but fear I'll cave and buy up some peaches and salmons and reds, and then there goes the monotone idea!

kioni
schoolhouse_gw
Original Author
15 years ago
Not looking for a third color this time, but I did consider doing a blue with a lighter blue, then plant an initial (letter B for the name of my schoolhouse)in a white; but maybe next year. Yes, Dusty Miller is good, I tried that by planting blue salvia then bordering it with Dusty Miller one season; but, the salvia grew taller and over the DM. The bed is a crescent shape with a boxwood hedge (kept clipped 8") around it. So height is the main concern when choosing the annual(s) to fill it. The lobelia was the perfect height, but not the perfect plant for the area.

Last year I tried putting purple salvia in the center and blue ageratum as the border. The ageratum got more foliage than bloom for some reason, got tall, and then ragged looking quickly, even tho I pinched back frequently.

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