Salvia 'May Night'

Salvia nemorosa 'May Night': Deep Colour, Season-Starting Style

Renowned for its rich, moody violet blooms and impressive staying power, Salvia 'May Night' is a perennial garden staple. Its dense flower spikes emerge in late spring and continue blooming well into summer, especially with a timely trim. Upright and sturdy, it forms a well-behaved clump of aromatic foliage that’s unbothered by deer, drought, or heat. Loved by pollinators and landscape designers alike, this cultivar brings depth and rhythm to borders while anchoring the early summer show.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 45–60 cm
• Spread: 40–50 cm
• Flower Colour: Deep violet-purple
• Flowering Period: Late spring to midsummer, with potential rebloom
• Foliage: Deep green, aromatic, finely textured
• Sunlight Requirements: Full sun
• Soil Requirements: Well-drained, average to sandy soils

Uses and Benefits: Perfect for massing, edging, or weaving through pollinator borders, 'May Night' provides reliable structure and intense colour early in the season. It partners beautifully with grasses and pastel blooms, offers strong vertical interest, and thrives in tough conditions. Its long-lasting blooms are nectar-rich and vital for early-season pollinators.

Companion Plants: Pair Salvia 'May Night' with the crisp contrast of Achillea 'New Vintage White', the finely variegated vertical accent of Calamagrostis 'Avalanche', and the soft lavender hues of Nepeta 'Picture Purrfect' for a graceful, sun-loving mix full of contrast and pollinator appeal.

Care Instructions: Grow in full sun with well-drained soil. Water regularly during establishment, then only during prolonged dry periods. Shear back after the first bloom cycle to encourage rebloom. Cut back fully in early spring and divide every few years to maintain vigour and fullness.

History: Introduced by German breeder Ernst Pagels and brought to prominence by renowned nurseryman Kurt Bluemel, 'May Night' was named the 1997 Perennial Plant of the Year™—a testament to its exceptional garden performance and widespread adaptability.

Final Thoughts: Bold, dependable, and irresistibly beautiful, Salvia 'May Night' is a cornerstone plant for sunny gardens. It’s a season-starting classic that delivers structure, colour, and pollinator action from spring onward.