Salvia guaranitica
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- SAL-vee-uh gwar-uh-NYE-tik-uh
- Description
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Salvia guarantica is a herbaceous perennial; which blooms from mid-summer to fall and prefers average, evenly moist well-drained soil. It is a tender perennial that is hardy in zones 8-10 but may be grown as annual in cold-winter regions. 'Black and Blue' is hardier than other cultivars and will survive milder winters in zone 7 if well-mulched.
This is a reliable nectar source for butterflies and hummingbirds and is seldom damaged by deer.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Herb & Flower Cottage Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Argentina Skies
Pale blue flowers with a green calyx. - ‘Black and Bloom’
- 'Black and Blue'
Deep blue petals and a dark purple-black calyx - Blue Ensign
Large medium blue flowers - Costa Rica Blue
Dark violet-blue flowers and yellow-green calyces - Omaha
Variegated form of ‘Costa Rica’ with yellow and green leaves
- Argentina Skies
- Argentina Skies, ‘Black and Bloom’, 'Black and Blue', Blue Ensign, Costa Rica Blue, Omaha
- Tags:























- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Argentina Skies
Pale blue flowers with a green calyx. - ‘Black and Bloom’
- 'Black and Blue'
Deep blue petals and a dark purple-black calyx - Blue Ensign
Large medium blue flowers - Costa Rica Blue
Dark violet-blue flowers and yellow-green calyces - Omaha
Variegated form of ‘Costa Rica’ with yellow and green leaves
- Argentina Skies
- Argentina Skies, ‘Black and Bloom’, 'Black and Blue', Blue Ensign, Costa Rica Blue, Omaha
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Salvia
- Species:
- guaranitica
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used by the Guarani Indians of Brazil as a sedative.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
- Spreading
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are two-lipped: the upper lip forms a hood over the stamens and the lower lip is downward-pointing, wide and toothed.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Oval, lightly-toothed, dark green leaves (2-5” long) are wrinkled above and pale green below
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Heat