Salvia 'Mystic Spires Blue'
Salvia ‘Mystic Spires Blue’ is a compact hybrid of mealycup and long‑spiked sage. It stands out for continuous blue bloom on sturdy spikes and a neat, upright habit. It performs best in sunny sites with excellent drainage and good air movement. In much of North America it is grown as a heat‑tough perennial in warm zones and as an annual elsewhere. Plants draw bees and hummingbirds all season. Growth is contained enough for small borders and patio pots.
At‑a‑glance
- Group/Class: Hybrid sage (Salvia longispicata × S. farinacea)
- Height × spread: 24-36 in × 24-36 in (60-90 cm × 60-90 cm)
- Bloom window: early summer to fall
- Color & flower form: bright blue flowers on upright spikes
- Fragrance: 1 trace
- USDA hardiness: 7-10; grown as annual in colder zones
- Breeder / Year / Origin: Ball Horticultural Co., 2007, USA
- Awards/registration: Plant of Merit (MBG); US Plant Patent PP18054
- Pet safety: safe
How it differs
- More compact than ‘Indigo Spires’ with shorter internodes.
- Blooms heavily without staking in average garden soils.
- Handles heat and humidity better than many woodland sages.
Strengths
- Reliable long bloom with routine deadheading.
- Heat and drought tolerance once established.
- Strong, tidy habit for containers and small beds.
Care in one minute
- Site: full sun.
- Soil: well‑drained, even gritty; neutral to slightly alkaline pH.
- Water: moderate; keep evenly moist the first month, then water deeply but infrequently.
- Feeding: modest; a balanced slow‑release in spring is enough.
- Grooming: deadhead spent spikes; shear lightly if plants tire in midsummer.
- Overwintering: mulch crowns in zones 7-8; take cuttings where winters are cold.
Watch‑outs
- Not reliably hardy where winters drop well below 10°F (−12°C).
- Can develop mildew if air circulation is poor.
- Excess fertilizer can push leafy growth at the expense of flowers.
Best uses (tags)
containers; borders; pollinators; heat‑tolerant; long‑blooming
Provenance note
An irradiation‑induced sport of ‘Indigo Spires’ selected in 2003 and patented as ‘Balsalmisp’ in 2007; marketed by Ball Horticultural Company.
References
- Missouri Botanical Garden – Salvia ‘Balsalmisp’ MYSTIC SPIRES BLUE
- U.S. Plant Patent US PP18054 – ‘Balsalmisp’
- NC State Extension – Salvia (genus overview with cultivar notes)
- Texas Superstar program – Mystic Spires Blue (brochure/overview)
Written by: Your Flowers Guide editorial team
We are a small independent group of flower lovers who research and review each guide using trusted horticultural and educational sources. Learn more about us