Salvia superba: Reliable Purple-Blue Spikes for Summer

Zones: 2-10, 14-24, 31-41. Exposure: Full sun. Water: Regular.

One of the most reliable garden salvias, Salvia superba delivers vivid purple-blue color throughout summer into fall. Half-inch flowers crowd 1½- to 3-foot spikes rising from clumps of gray-green, 1- to 3-inch elongated oval leaves with the classic sage fragrance.

Outstanding cultivars: 'May Night' (compact, to 1½ feet, deep purple-blue) and 'Blue Hill' (similar color, nearly 2½ feet tall and wide). Grows in ordinary soil but appreciates organic matter. Tolerates some dryness but prefers regular water. To prolong bloom, cut spent spikes to the ground. Divide every 4–5 years when clumps become too large or die out in the center.