Salvia 'Bumbleblue'

Salvia 'Bumbleblue': Violet-Blue Bee Magnet, Balcony-Sized

Rich violet-blue packed tight on upright spikes, on a mound small enough for the front of the bed. 'Bumbleblue' is the bumblebee's favourite colour, and it KNOWS IT.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Salvia nemorosa 'Bumbleblue'
• Common Name: Meadow Sage
• Series: Bumble series, from Walters Gardens
• Height: 30–35 cm (12–14 in)
• Spread: 35–40 cm (14–16 in)
• Flowers: Rich violet-blue, densely packed on upright spikes
• Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer (June to July), with repeat bloom after deadheading
• Foliage: Green and fragrant, in a compact mound
• Features: Compact habit, rabbit resistant, salt tolerant, resists powdery mildew, good for cutting

Where to Plant: Use it to edge a sunny bed or path, line the front of a border or fill a container on a hot balcony. A row gives a clean band of blue, and its salt tolerance lets it handle a bed beside the driveway.

Companion Plants: Plant 'Bumbleblue' in a sunny, dry bed with violet globes, hot pink coneflowers and rose hollyhocks. Allium 'Globemaster' opens big violet globes at 60 to 90 cm in May and June. Echinacea SunMagic® Vintage Lipstick adds hot pink coneflowers at 45 to 60 cm from July to September. Alcea 'Radiant Rose' rises at the back to 175 to 180 cm with rose-pink hollyhocks. Panicum Prairie Winds® 'Apache Rose' stands behind at 120 cm, upright and grey-green.

Plant Care: Plant it in full sun in average, well-drained soil. Keep it watered through the first season. Once settled, it gets by on rainfall except in long dry spells. After the first round of flowers, cut the spent spikes back to the leaves to encourage the plant to bloom again. A light shear also keeps the mound tight. Cut it to the ground in late fall or early spring. Divide in spring every few years if needed.

History: 'Bumbleblue' was bred by Hans Hansen at Walters Gardens in Zeeland, Michigan, from a 2012 cross between the salvias 'Crystal Blue' and 'New Dimension Blue'. It became one of the founding plants of the compact Bumble series, along with 'Bumblesky'.

Final Thoughts: Salt tolerant, mildew resistant and ignored by deer and rabbits. Plant it along the driveway. THE BEES WILL FILE A FLIGHT PLAN.