Salvia azurea - Blue Sage

Sizes available: Landscape plug (available 6/11/26), 6.00 ea or 10 for 48.00, pre-orders welcome, mix and match okay

Basics: zones 4-9, 60" x 18-24", full sun to part shade, Blue bloom in early to mid fall, medium to low water needs, tolerant of many types of soil, including clay, but grows the best in a lean soil. 

Common names: Azure-blue Sage, Blue Sage, Pitcher Sage, Azure Sage

Family: Lamiaceae

Origin/Distribution: The native distribution is from North Carolina south to Florida, west to Texas, Nebraska, and Minnesota. Is recorded as a garden escapee in southwestern Connecticut and southern Vermont.

Habitat: Found in grassy areas such as meadow and pasture, and woodland edges. 

More: Long-blooming and lovely, this adaptable plant brightens up the fall garden. It is deer and rabbit resistant. I am looking forward to seeing how it does as a cut flower. The larvae of the Hermit Sphinx Moth, Lintneria eremitus, which is native to Maine, feed on the plants in the Lamiaceae (Mint) family, and they will probably feed on this one, too. I have some Blue Sage planted in the Tear Drop garden at the nursery and it is such a delightful surprise when it blooms as it is quite self-effacing, although tall, prior to the show.

Nursery: Landscape plugs from New Moon Nursery

Image credits: Wikimedia Commons