in bloom
now
through Oct
Bloom calendar
Black and Blue
Anise‑scented sage
At‑a‑glance
- Group/Class: Anise‑scented sage
- Height × spread: 3-5 ft × 3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m × 0.9-1.5 m)
- Bloom window: mid‑summer to frost
- Color & flower form: deep blue tubular flowers with black calyces on long spikes
- Fragrance: 2 noticeable
- USDA hardiness: 8-10; grown as annual in colder zones
- Breeder / Year / Origin: unknown
- Awards/registration: Plant of Merit (MBG)
- Pet safety: safe
How it differs
- Unique black calyces give high contrast compared with typical blue salvias.
- Taller, more open habit than bedding mealycup sages.
- Fragrant foliage unlike many border salvias.
Strengths
- Very attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies.
- Blooms through late season in heat.
- Deer tolerance commonly reported.
Care in one minute
Site: full sun to light afternoon shade in hot interiors.
Soil: fertile but well‑drained; avoid water‑logging.
Water: keep evenly moist the first season; drought tolerant once established.
Feeding: modest; excess nitrogen can make stems lanky.
Grooming: remove spent spikes; cut back after first frost where perennial.
Overwintering: mulch crowns deeply in zones 8-9; take cuttings in late summer in colder areas.
Watch‑outs
- Marginal cold hardiness; protect crowns or lift in zones colder than 8.
- Can sprawl if grown in shade or rich soil.
- Downy or powdery mildew possible in humid conditions.
Best uses (tags)
Provenance note
A selected form of South American S. guaranitica with distinctive dark calyces; widely grown in warm regions and recognized as a Plant of Merit.
References
- Missouri Botanical Garden – Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’
- RHS – Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’ profile
- NC State Extension – Salvia (genus overview)
