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Victoria Blue
Mealycup sage
At‑a‑glance
- Group/Class: Mealycup sage
- Height × spread: 15-24 in × 9-18 in (38-61 cm × 23-46 cm)
- Bloom window: late spring to frost
- Color & flower form: deep blue, two‑lipped flowers on dense spikes
- Fragrance: 1 trace
- USDA hardiness: 8-10; grown as annual in colder zones
- Breeder / Year / Origin: unknown
- Awards/registration: Plant of Merit (Missouri Botanical Garden)
- Pet safety: safe
How it differs
- Shorter and denser than many blue salvias.
- Starts flowering earlier than taller hybrid types in warm sites.
- Spikes are thick and uniform for bedding displays.
Strengths
- Long season of bloom with routine deadheading.
- Tolerates heat and short dry spells once established.
- Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
- Deer tolerance commonly noted.
Care in one minute
Site: full sun; light afternoon shade in hottest areas.
Soil: average to lean, well‑drained; neutral to slightly alkaline pH.
Water: moderate; allow top inch to dry between waterings after establishment.
Feeding: light monthly feeding during bloom if soils are poor.
Grooming: remove spent spikes to keep flowers coming; shear lightly midseason.
Overwintering: take cuttings or lift and pot before frost in cold regions.
Watch‑outs
- Not winter hardy in cold regions.
- Can develop powdery or downy mildew in humid, stagnant air.
- Weak growth in shade or soggy soil.
Best uses (tags)
Provenance note
An older selection in the bedding trade; widely grown and recognized as a Plant of Merit by Missouri Botanical Garden.
References
- Missouri Botanical Garden – Salvia farinacea ‘Victoria Blue’
- NC State Extension – Salvia farinacea (Mealycup Sage)
- Wisconsin Horticulture – Mealycup sage, Salvia farinacea
