lavender salvia plant Salvia | May Night Meadow Sage

In the high heat of the summer, cool tones in the garden are a refreshing visual treat. Use the jewel tones of rich blue flower spikes of May Night Salvia (Salvia x sylvestris 'Mainacht') to create a marvelous respite.

This easy-care hybrid perennial begs to be used as a winding rich blue ribbon at the edge of your garden walkways and borders. The flowers bloom from late spring onward. Glowing purple stems are loaded with spires of violet-purple flowers that can bloom and rebloom from late spring throughout the summer into fall. May Night flowers feature a depth of color that draws your eye.

This is one of the most popular flowers for butterflies. They will flock to your planting to access an easy nectar feast. Butterflies will enliven your Salvia planting and add color and a delightful sense of motion to your landscape! With its blue-gray, lance-shaped aromatic foliage, May Night makes an attractive accent all summer long. It stays in excellent compact form.

May Night Salvia is a low-maintenance plant that is disease and pest-free. It is a strikingly upright plant with a compact form. You'll adore its high performance and great looks! Hardy throughout USDA planting zones 3 to 8, these plants grow 18 inches when in bloom and spread about as wide or wider once mature.

Planting and Application:

Use May Night to create interest along a walkway. Simply brushing against the textured foliage releases an herbal fragrance that lingers in the air. They are perhaps at their best when multiple plants are used in mass. After all, you want to see a lot of those beautiful rich blue flower spikes. Plant them as a long, low-edging plant in borders.

This is the perfect plant for home garden perennial gardens or as a mass-fill plant in a commercial landscape. To create a solid low border for edging, plant 2 feet apart on center. You'll measure from the center of one to the center of the next. Mass plantings can be created using a series of zig-zagging staggered rows. Mulch between plants and keep new plantings weeded.

Another way to use this beauty is to create long, skinny drifts near the front of your perennial border. Start with a single plant on either end, then use 2 or 3 plants deep near the center of the drift. Vary the plant spacing from 2 to 4 feet for the most natural results.

Use it to counteract bold shades of other perennials. It coordinates beautifully with just about any hue, from white to yellow to orange, red, and shades of pink. In the ground and in containers and planters, Salvia looks great in any sunny garden!

Use taller perennials or short shrubs as a backdrop and plant groundcover Sedum in front. This deliciously textured look adds season-long interest. You'll love feeding the butterflies and creating a personal oasis for yourself and your family! Your mixed perennial garden gains a dark counterpoint, and creates depth in the Cottage Garden, and even shines in the xeric Rock Garden.

May Night Salvia can be used as a Filler in large container gardens on the patio or porch. Or, try them all by themselves in smaller pots. You'll need to water containers regularly, especially in hot weather. Make sure you cut blooms to bring inside. May Night Salvia blooms are excellent tall and slender cut flower accents! May Night Salvia has a high value for wildlife. It's simply a magnet for butterflies and Hummingbirds, as well as other beneficial insects. Yet, deer tend to leave it alone.

• 1997 Perennial Plant of the Year
• Glowing Violet Blue Flower Spikes
• Dark Gray-Green Low-Growing Mounds Of Aromatic Foliage
• Perennial Salvia Comes Back Year After Year
• Great for Cut & Dried Flowers, Pollinators & Hummingbirds
• Beautiful Filler in Containers, Borders & Edging & Mass Planting

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Give these perennials full sun exposure with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. It needs well-drained soil, but May Night is not particular about soil type or soil pH. A 3-4 inch layer of mulch over the root systems helps to keep them moist and cool and extends the time between watering. Give new plants a moderate amount of water on a regular basis.

Once their roots are established in your native soil, this plant becomes a low-water user. Automatic drip irrigation systems can be your best friend in these situations! However, if you experience an extended period of drought, it's best to provide regular watering. You'll want to protect your investment, after all.

In containers, plant using average potting soil such as Dr. Earth Mother Land Premium Organic All Purpose Planting Mix. To increase bloom time, Salvia should be deadheaded after the first blooms begin to fade. At this time, it can be clipped back hard to rejuvenate the foliage and encourage continuous summer blooming.

• Thrives in Sun, Heat & Humidity
• Drought Tolerant Once Established
• Any Well-Drained Soil Type
• Prune Back Late Winter or Early Spring
• Deadhead To Encourage New Blooms Spring til Fall
• Deer Resistant, Easy To Grow Perennials

Gorgeous butterfly magnets, fall in love with the deep, delicious color of May Night Salvia. Order yours from the expert growers at Nature Hills today!