Blue salvia ‘Signum’

* Common name: Salvia ‘Signum’

* Botanical name: Salvia farinacea

* What it is: A rabbit-proof, cold- and heat-tolerant annual flower with spiky dark-blue flowers all summer. Survives light frost and occasionally overwinters.

* Size: 14-18 inches tall, plant 12 inches apart.

* Where to use: Mass in any sunny island bed or spot in sunny foundation beds.

* Care: Plant early to late May. Work compost and timed-release flower fertilizer into the beds, then water two or three times a week for the first few weeks. After that, one weekly soaking is enough when rain doesn’t happen. In-season watering with liquid flower fertilizer helps but isn’t critical.

* Great partner: Pink petunias or pink vinca.