Indigo Spires Sage Salvia 'Indigo Spires'
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- SAL-vee-uh
- Description
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'Indigo Spires' salvia is a chance garden hybrid, first discovered in the Huntington Botanical Gardens, San Marino, California. It is believed to have originated as a cross between Salvia longispicata and mealycup sage (Salvia farinacea), but the actual parentage has never been established through genetic analysis. This semi-woody perennial is believed to be sterile.
‘Indigo Spires’ salvia likes full sun and humus-rich, moist soil, whereupon it can grow 4 feet tall and equally wide. Pinching and pruning can keep the plant compact and within bounds. Deadheading is necessary. This cultivar is easily propagated from stem cuttings.
This hybrid blooms from early summer until frost. The violet-blue flowers attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. It is not reliably winter hardy, so heavy mulching during winter is advised, as well as starting cuttings indoors as backup plants.
Grow ‘Indigo Spires’ in a large container or in the beds or borders of a butterfly, pollinator, or children’s garden. It would not be out of place in a cottage garden or sensory garden.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: 'Indigo Spires' generally has no serious insect or disease problems. It is susceptible to downy mildew, powdery mildew, and damping-off. Well-drained soil and good air circulation are required.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Salvia
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Garden hybrid from California.
- Wildlife Value:
- Attractive to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Easy to Grow
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Dense
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- The cultivar is sterile. Fruits have not been observed.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Colored Sepals
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Bluish purple, two-lipped flowers. The lower lip and the calyx are covered with purple hairs.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Papery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
