Patty, A salvia that fits your description is Salvia x sylvestris 'May Night'. It is very dark purple, seems to enjoy the same amount of water as roses (but will put up with dryer conditions), and tops out at about 15 - 18" tall max. It looks spectacular with yellow roses, but goes with just about any color - I have it all over the place. -- Debbie

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.

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

Haw: My Austin bee populations hit the S.greggii & S.microphylla really hard. I would avoid May Night and some of the other lower growing Salvias.Cousin to Indigo Spires Mystic spires is shorter and the Swallowtail butterflies hit them. The European Honey and our Bumble Bee both don't like getting that close to the ground or they become food for something else. I have not seen that many bees on those plants even up on a table @ the nursery I work at. There may not be enough nectar for them to warrant the risk.Some other relatives that attract bees are Basils especial the African Blue. That has been my observation here. Art