Blue Sage

Blue Sage 'Marine Blue' (Salvia 'Marine Blue') is a compact shrubby salvia grown for spikes of deep blue flowers over a neat mound about 70cm tall and 80cm wide. Blue this true is rare among flowering shrubs, and the bees know it. Add fast growth and a high tolerance for heat, drought and ordinary soil, and you have one of the easiest colour plants a border can carry.

Why you'll love it

• Genuine blue. The flower spikes are a deep marine blue that reads clearly from across a garden, not a purple pretending.
• The pollinator queue. Bees, butterflies and nectar feeding birds all work the spikes.
• Fast to fill. It is quick growing, so small stock reaches flowering size without a long apprenticeship.
• Undemanding. Heat, dry spells and poor soil are all tolerated once the roots are established.

Where it works best

Borders and mass planting. Plant 50cm apart for a full mass planting. Blocks of five or more give the blue enough visual weight to carry a bed.

Rockeries and small gardens. The compact habit suits tight planting pockets and hot reflective corners where bigger salvias sprawl.

Pots. A single plant fills a mid sized container and flowers at close range, where the colour and the bees can be properly appreciated.

Growing Blue Sage in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the strongest flowering. It performs in subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean climates, and it takes light frost only, so in hard frost districts give it a warm sheltered position.

Soil. Almost anything that drains. It flowers well even in poor soil, and rich beds simply grow a lusher plant.

Water and feed. Water to establish through the first season, then only through extended dry spells. Feed modestly in spring, because heavy feeding pushes leaf at the expense of flowers.

Pruning. Trim spent spikes through the season to keep new ones coming, then cut the plant back by about half in late winter so it rebuilds compact and fresh.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Marine Blue as tube stock. A tube looks modest when you unbox it, but this is a fast plant: settled into warm soil with water behind it, it builds toward flowering size within its first season. Tubes are also the economical way to plant the drifts this salvia is best used in. Orders are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse plants for bees and butterflies
• More drought tolerant plants
• How to build an Australian cottage garden
• Pair it with Lavender 'French Revolution'

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

50cm apart for a full mass planting. At that spacing plants knit into a continuous drift while each keeps its shape.

Should I cut it back?

Yes, twice over. Deadhead spent spikes whenever you notice them, and cut the whole plant back by about half in late winter.

How does it handle frost?

Light frost is fine once established. In districts with hard frosts, plant it against a warm wall, mulch well and save the hard cut back for spring.

Will it grow in a pot?

Yes. Use a free draining mix and full sun, and expect to water more often than you would in the ground.