Salvia 'Blue Hill'

Salvia 'Blue Hill': Nearly True Blue, and Proud of It

Clear violet-blue spikes on a compact clump of soft, aromatic leaves. 'Blue Hill' is the hill you'll happily die on in every garden argument. NO NOTES.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Salvia × sylvestris 'Blauhügel'
• Common Name: Meadow Sage
• Height: 45–60 cm (18–24 in)
• Spread: 30–45 cm (12–18 in)
• Flowers: Clear violet-blue, on dense, upright spikes
• Bloom Time: Early summer, with repeat bloom into early fall after deadheading (June to September)
• Foliage: Soft, slightly fuzzy, aromatic green leaves in a compact clump
• Features: RHS Award of Garden Merit

Where to Plant: Plant it at the front or middle of a sunny border, in prairie-style plantings, or in pollinator beds. Planted in drifts, it reads as a river of blue.

Companion Plants: Solidago rigida rises behind with yellow flower heads from August to October, carrying colour past the sage. Delphinium 'Cherry Blossom/White Bee' adds pink spikes at 70 to 90 cm in June and July. Achillea 'Little Moonshine' brings soft yellow at the front from June to September, a classic match for blue. Plant all three in full sun with good drainage.

Plant Care: Give it full sun and average, well-drained soil. Lean soil keeps it compact. Rich soil and too much water make the stems flop. Water through the first season, then only during long dry spells. When the first flush of flowers fades, cut the spikes back to fresh growth to encourage a second round later in summer. If the clump opens up in the middle, shear it back by about half. Cut stems down in late fall or early spring. Divide in spring every three or four years to keep it vigorous.

History: 'Blue Hill' is the English name for 'Blauhügel', a selection by the German plantsman Ernst Pagels, chosen for its intense blue flowers and compact habit. It holds the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Final Thoughts: Deer resistant, drought tolerant and a bee favourite. Shear it after the first flush and it comes back for more. SNIP, WAIT, REPEAT.