Salvia ‘Black and Blue’
Closeup of 'Black and Blue.' Note the unusual black base of the flowers.
* Common name: Salvia ‘Black and Blue’
* Botanical name: Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’
* What it is: An upright perennial farther south but an annual here that sometimes overwinters with protection. Main attraction is tubular, steely-blue flowers in summer that are absolute hummingbird magnets. Flowers have jet-black bases.
* Size: 30-36 inches tall, 2 feet around
* Where to use: Makes a nice pot centerpiece but also does well in any sunny garden with reasonably decent soil. No soggy clay. Use one or more outside a window so you can watch the hummingbirds from inside.
* Care: In a pot, water regularly to keep soil consistently damp. Fertilize every week or two with a high-phosphorus fertilizer. Less water and fertilizer needed in the ground. Snip off spent flower tips to encourage new blooms. Spraying not needed.
* Great partner: Any silver-leafed plant, such as dusty miller, licorice plant or dichondra ‘Silver Falls.’
'Black and Blue' potted on George's patio.
I have the blue salvia , I am in. NJ, will it come back next year? Or should I pot it and bring it in?
Michele,
It’s probably not going to survive in a pot outside all winter. At season’s end, I just cut back my ‘Black and Blue’ to a stub and move the whole plant in my unheated garage. I give it just a little water about twice over winter (just enough to keep the soil from going bone dry but not enough to trigger any growth).
Come spring, my plants start growing again from the roots when I move them outside. You can repot them and/or divide them if needed at that time.
This is a yummy plant, I just bought one. Dont think people realise how enourmouse it can get in height and spread. Im planning it for the base of a sunny wall. It comes from Brazil so theres a little tip as to it’s hardiness. What Im wondering will it grow well in zones 10b-11 ……does it love humdity and heat? Just I know some subtropical plants can be a bit fussy about too much rain and humidity so find the tropics a but of a push. Any info would well recieved. Thanks
This is a Salvia guaranitica, which is winter-hardy in Zones 8-10. Zone 11 might be pushing it a bit. In our climate, it’s an annual that can be overwintered dormant in a garage, basement or shed.
This is the second season that I’m growing this stunner because the hummingbirds just LOVE IT! The only thing that is making me so angry its that the slightest wind or simply brushing past the plant causes the branches to break off! I don’t know how to prevent this. The center spike is fine. It’s the outward facing branches that can’t seem to stay attached to the main stem without breaking off at the slightest provocation. Any tips out there?
Julia,
Try making a sort of “corral” around the plant by inserting three or four stakes (green bamboo ones are ideal) around the perimeter of the pot and then wrapping green jute around each all around the pot. That should keep the plant more bundled, although without the straitjacket look, so wind can’t blow stems too far to cause breaking.
We bought 6″ pots of these as an annual about 8 years ago and they’ve continued to come back every year since in Monmouth County, NJ. We divide and move patches throughout the yard to keep the hummingbirds happy. We have not found any other plant that attracts them anywhere near as well.