Salvia ‘Big Blue’

Add some height with Salvia ‘Big Blue’. This eye-catching variety produces up-right spikes of large purple/blue flowers. It’s two-lipped elegant blooms rise above its dark green, aromatic foliage reaching heights as high as 90cm. It makes an ideal addition to background garden borders or large containers, where it gracefully complements both bold, vibrant foliage and more subdued, delicate plants. Whether planted in groups for a dramatic display or as a striking solitary specimen, Salvia ‘Big Blue’ adds a decorative and enchanting touch, transforming your outdoor space into a place of beauty and wonder.

Its beauty is sure to captivate and inspire, bringing a sense of brightness to any garden setting. This variety would suit landscapers and home gardeners in traditional cottage gardens as well as modern home landscapes. Such an easy variety to grow, ideal if your planning large scale plantings and if your wanting to fill a large border. This variety is adored by bees and butterflies making it an excellent choice if your wanting to add to a pollinator garden.

Great for cutting over their flowering period from July to Autumn, producing an abundance of upright, long-lasting flower spikes that add striking beauty to both fresh and dried flower vase arrangements. The blooms continue to flourish until the first frost, offering colour and texture well into the cooler months.

Sow seeds from March to April in pots or seedling trays, spreading them evenly on the surface of moist compost, a light sprinkle of soil is all that’s needed to gently cover the seeds. Once your seeds are sown, place the pots or trays in a warm, controlled environment such as a greenhouse or propagator, maintaining a consistent temperature between 22-24°C. This warm, humid environment will encourage the seeds to germinate. Seedlings typically take 15-21 days to appear. During this time, monitor the compost to keep it moist, but avoid overwatering, which can cause the seeds to rot.

Once your seedlings are established, transplant them into larger pots to accommodate their growth. From end of May gradually acclimate them to cooler conditions by hardening them off over 7-10 days, allowing the plants to adjust to outdoor conditions. Before planting them outside, ensure the soil is sandy, well-drained, and the site receives full sun. Pinch out growing tip to encourage new bushy growth. Deadhead spent flowers if you prefer to prevent self-seeding. Avoid pruning old stems until new growth begins to appear in the spring. The best time to divide perennial Salvias is early spring, before new growth starts to emerge.