94. A VERTICAL PUNCH—HARDY PERENNIAL SALVIA

If you want a dependable, beautiful, and care-free perennial with vertical flower spikes in your garden, look to the hardy perennial salvias—in particular, Salvia nemorosa and its many hybrids. Typically referred to as woodland sage or meadow sage, these deer- and rabbit-resistant herbaceous flowers have dense upright spikes of white, purple, or pink flowers. They are a favorite of bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. Hardy salvia blooms like crazy from late spring into early summer, and it forms a low foliage mound that stays neat all season. No wonder these perennials are a staple in northern and central gardens.

Hardy salvia needs little attention. Once established in rich, well-draining soil, they can be in place for years without dividing. They prefer sunny spots for best flowering and are heat and drought tolerant. Best of all, hardy perennial salvia can be deadheaded to keep blooming, less robustly, later in the year. Once the flower stems have passed and turned brown, prune the stems down to where you see new buds forming on either side of the stem. A new set of flowers will appear in four to six weeks.

The spike flowers of hardy salvia work well with other early summer perennials that prefer dry, sunny conditions. These companions include coreopsis, yarrow, daylilies, catmint, dianthus, lady’s mantle, and penstemons. Hardy salvia has many varieties to choose from. You can start with the well-known cultivar ‘May Night’ (Salvia nemorosa ‘May Night’). Named PPA 1997 Perennial Plant of the Year, it is favored for its long-blooming, deep purple flowers and its pest and disease resistance. Other cultivars of Salvia nemorosa are the pink ‘Eveline,’ the compact, white-blooming ‘Snow Hill,’ and the ‘Blue Marvel,’ which has extra-large blossoms of deep lavender-blue. All salvia flowers attract butterflies. It is a worthwhile addition to any pollinator garden.

‘May Night’ perennial salvia (Salvia nemorosa ‘May Night’) is a hardy cultivar known for its deep blue-purple blooms that remain upright. It has numerous dense flower spikes. Zones 4–8.