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Tennessee Gardening

Black and Blue Salvia: Anyone tried it?

15 years ago

Well, I was shopping during lunch and saw one of these and couldn't resist any longer. I got one to go beside our mailbox...the deep purple irises look outstanding there right now, so I wanted some summer purple as well.

THEN, I get back to my computer and look it up on Dave's site, and there are a lot of phrases like, "Thug," "Invasive," "Taking over my yard...may have to move."

Ruh roh!

But it also seemed kind of dependent on where you lived. The people in Texas were not so keen on it at all. I just wondered if anyone in Mid TN has tried it. Does it come back here? If so, is it really the villain they're making it out to be? Thanks! Could use some feedback before I decide where the monster will live. :)

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Comments (5)

Amazindirt (7a TN)
15 years ago
I have had both 'Black and Blue' and the species guaranitica. I like em a lot. IMHO it's too cold here for it to really take over, but at least the species does come back well. It's been a coupla years since I had the 'Black and Blue'.......I think maybe it died out, I can't remember right now!
conniemcghee
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks! How big did yours get? It is so innocent-looking in its little quart container, but I have read it can get five feet tall! (Which is probably too big for beside our mailbox).
Related Discussions
'Black & Blue' Salvia
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Comments (3)
wonderful plant! i love it, tho it can be hard to find for me sometimes. it gets quite large, so give it space. it's an annual for me here in zone 5 as well, darn it. i can't decide whether to grow them this year -- so far, the only ones i have seen were at a nursery i went to this morning, were planted in 18-inch diameter pots (three plants) and the price was 30$$. bit too steep for an annual, for me!
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Substitute for Black and Blue Salvia?
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Comments (10)
I can't seem to envision a garden without Black and Blue Salvia since the first time I saw it about 4 years ago. It is such a stunning color, and is a favorite of the hummingbirds at my house as well. I have had it reseed in pots and it seemed to come true, and I have overwintered it in the house, but it looks pretty bad when I do. I have read somewhere that you can store the tubers like glads or dahlias, but have yet to get myself organized enough in the fall to dig them and try it. So far now I keep buying new plants each spring and trying to find the ideal way to overwinter plants. My next plan is putting some pots in my cold cellar with the potatoes and onions after a killing frost and planting some against the foundation and then covering them with a heavy layer of insulation after frost to see if I can overwinter them in-ground.
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Salvia "Black and Blue"
Q
Comments (3)
In zone 6 mine always come back, but this last winter was the test and they did come back. It took mine several years to get big so I think keeping them is better than buying new. Have you tried chopping them down and covering with a deep pile of straw?
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Black and Blue Salvia (salvia guaranitica)
Q
Comments (13)
Vicki - I just found some at one of my local nurseries here this past Friday. They had just received the shipment of that and a number of other hummer salvias (eg., 'Argentine Skies') that day. I think that many of the summer bloomers are being held back by some nurseries until this 3rd week of May to make sure that they can avoid those late late frosts - particularly those places that don't have much greenhouse space. You might want to try doing the rounds again to see if any are now appearing at your favorite spots... I know that I've never seen any over here at Lowes, Wally World, or HD so I don't even bother looking at those places any more.
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columbiastock
15 years ago
I have two Black & Blue Salvia, planted at our back deck and one on the side of our home. They both are growing well and grew to 4ft. last summer. I love this plant and so do the humming birds.
Amazindirt (7a TN)
15 years ago
Mine have probably grown to around 4ft. They have formed good sized clumps, but have not been actively invasive. And the hummers LOVE them. :-)
judydean
15 years ago
In Memphis it goes really, really well. I had to move it from the flower bed to an area where it can travel. I "control" it by pulling it up every fall. It always comes back. It has runners and spreads like crazy! On the other hand, it's beautiful and butterflies and hummingbirds love it. I'm taking some to the Memphis plant swap this Saturday, but I'm giving it away with a warning. I like my gardening friends and don't want to be in trouble come July. Judy

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