Mystic Spires Flowering Sage

Mystic Spires Flowering Sage (Salvia longispicata x farinacea 'Mystic Spires') is a compact, upright salvia 50cm high and wide that sends up spike after spike of vivid navy blue flowers through summer. It is a dwarf version of the older Indigo Spires, and it has earned the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Why you'll love it

• True navy blue. Constant spikes of deep, true blue are rare in a garden, and these hold their colour right through the growing season.
• Compact and upright. At 50cm it suits borders and patio pots where its taller parent would be too large.
• A proven performer. Besides the Award of Garden Merit, it was a winner in the 2019 plant trials at the Sydney Botanic Gardens.
• Purple undersides. Mature leaves are purple underneath, which adds depth to the foliage.
• Bees, butterflies and birds. The flowers are usually covered in visitors, so plant a couple in the vegetable patch too.

Where it works best

Borders and cottage beds. Plant 50cm apart in a drift so the spikes form a block of blue. Pair it with white or yellow flowers for contrast.

Patio pots. One plant in a pot at least 250mm wide gives a tidy navy accent beside a door or a seat.

Vegetable patches and kitchen gardens. A few plants at the end of a bed bring pollinators in to the crops.

Seasonal colour in cold gardens. Where frost is a fact of life, treat it as an annual bedding plant and replant each spring.

Growing Mystic Spires Flowering Sage in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade. It needs a frost free climate, so it is a perennial in warm subtropical and warm temperate gardens. Where winters are colder, treat it as an annual. It may come through a light frost, but do not count on it.

Soil. Rich soil suits it, so dig in compost before planting and mulch afterwards.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly until established, usually around 12 weeks. In dry climates water weekly. Feed in spring with a slow release fertiliser, and give it a seaweed boost in the summer heat.

Pruning. Clip over after flowering to encourage fresh growth and perhaps a repeat flowering. Cut it hard back in early spring.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Mystic Spires Flowering Sage as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, in 140mm pots in packs of 10 and in 200mm pots in packs of 6. Tubes are the economical way to fill a bed, and the larger pots give a more developed plant. Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. When the grower has none, the tube shows as sold out on this page, and the notify button emails you the day it is back.

Plants travel upright and settle fast. Plant out soon after delivery, water in well and mulch the soil.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse our salvia range
• More plants for bees and butterflies
• Plants that suit pots
• How to create a cottage garden

Common questions

Is Mystic Spires an annual or a perennial?

It is a perennial where winters are frost free. Where frost is regular, treat it as an annual bedding plant and replant each spring.

How is it different from Indigo Spires?

It is a dwarf version, about 50cm high instead of a much taller plant, with the same deep navy blue flower spikes.

When should I prune it?

Clip over after flowering to encourage a repeat show, then cut it hard back in early spring.