Salvia Sallyrosa™ April Night

Salvia Sallyrosa™ April Night: Violet Spikes a Month Ahead of Schedule

'April Night' shows up to the party early, stays late and never once looks tired. Violet-purple spikes on sturdy stems, no mildew, no drama. THE PERFECT HOUSEGUEST EXISTS.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Salvia × sylvestris 'DSALRS203'
• Common Name: Meadow Sage
• Series: Sallyrosa™, from Danziger
• Height: 30–35 cm (12–14 in)
• Spread: 30–35 cm (12–14 in)
• Flowers: Violet-purple spikes with reddish-purple bracts, held on sturdy, upright stems
• Bloom Time: Late spring to early fall (May to September), with repeat bloom after deadheading
• Foliage: Grey-green and aromatic, in a compact, tidy clump
• Features: Early and long blooming, rabbit resistant, mildew resistant, good for cutting

Where to Plant: Its compact size makes it a natural for the front of a sunny border, edging a walk or filling patio containers. Plant it in groups for a solid ribbon of purple, especially near a driveway or a hot, dry strip where tender plants struggle.

Companion Plants: Plant early-blooming April Night in a sunny, dry bed with orange coneflowers, white lavender and white hollyhocks. Lavandula 'Alba' adds fragrant white spikes at 35 to 60 cm from June to September. Echinacea SunMagic® Vintage Electric Orange brings intense orange coneflowers at 45 to 60 cm from July to September. Alcea 'Polarstar' rises at the back to 150 to 180 cm with white hollyhocks. Pennisetum 'Karley Rose' arches at 90 to 100 cm with rosy plumes.

Plant Care: Plant it in full sun in average, well-drained soil. Rich soil and wet feet are the main things it dislikes. Water regularly in the first season, then only during long dry spells. Snip off spent flower spikes down to the next set of buds to keep it blooming. If the clump looks tired after the first flush, cut it back by about half and it will refresh with new foliage and more flowers. Cut the stems to the ground in late fall or early spring. Divide in spring every few years if the centre thins out.

History: April Night was bred by Gavriel Danziger at the Danziger flower farm in Israel, found in 2008 as an open-pollinated seedling of another Salvia sylvestris selection, and is part of the Sallyrosa™ series. Its name nods to the famous 'May Night', since it begins flowering about a month earlier.

Final Thoughts: Deadhead it and it takes another lap around the dance floor. Deer and rabbits aren't on the list. KEEP THE PARTY GOING.