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Indigo Spires
Hybrid sage (Salvia longispicata × S. farinacea) · John MacGregor, 1979, USA (California)
At‑a‑glance
- Group/Class: Hybrid sage (Salvia longispicata × S. farinacea)
- Height × spread: 3-5 ft × 3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m × 0.9-1.5 m)
- Bloom window: summer to frost
- Color & flower form: indigo‑blue whorled flowers on long, arching spikes
- Fragrance: 1 trace
- USDA hardiness: 8-10; grown as annual in colder zones
- Breeder / Year / Origin: John MacGregor, 1979, USA (California)
- Pet safety: safe
How it differs
- Taller and more sprawling than compact blue salvias.
- Distinctive twisting spikes give a looser, informal look.
- Blooms steadily in heat once established.
Strengths
- Long flowering season with regular deadheading.
- Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
- Heat tolerant in full sun.
- Good presence at the back of mixed borders.
Care in one minute
Site: full sun; allow room for spread.
Soil: well‑drained; avoid consistently wet sites.
Water: moderate; deep watering encourages sturdy growth.
Feeding: modest; too much nitrogen increases flopping.
Grooming: deadhead regularly; shear by one‑third in midsummer if lanky.
Overwintering: take cuttings in late summer where not hardy.
Watch‑outs
- Can flop or sprawl without occasional shearing or staking.
- Not reliably hardy; mulch heavily or take cuttings.
- May grow very large in rich soil.
Best uses (tags)
Provenance note
A chance hybrid found at The Huntington; selected by John MacGregor and introduced in 1979.
References
- NC State Extension – Salvia ‘Indigo Spires’
- RHS – Salvia ‘Indigo Spires’ profile
- Pacific Horticulture – Huntington introductions (includes ‘Indigo Spires’)
