Salvia 'Bumblesky'

Salvia 'Bumblesky': Easygoing Sky Blue for Any Palette

Light sky-blue spikes, big and dense, on a bushy little mound. 'Bumblesky' brings a clear blue sky to the garden even when the forecast says otherwise. NO CLOUDS ALLOWED.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Salvia nemorosa 'Bumblesky'
• Common Name: Meadow Sage
• Series: Bumble series, from Walters Gardens
• Height: 35–40 cm (14–16 in)
• Spread: 45–50 cm (18–20 in)
• Flowers: Light sky blue, in large, dense spikes
• Bloom Time: Early summer (June to July), with repeat bloom after deadheading
• Foliage: Deep green, aromatic and slightly wrinkled, in a bushy mound
• Features: Compact habit, rabbit resistant, salt tolerant, good for cutting
• Plant Patent: USPP 30,085

Where to Plant: Plant it along the front of a sunny border, beside a path or in patio pots. It handles some road salt, so it's a fair choice for a bed by the driveway.

Companion Plants: Eryngium yuccifolium rises behind with white globe flowers at 90 to 150 cm from July to September. Agastache 'Rosie Posie' adds pink spikes from July to September. Sempervivum 'Sunset' forms low rosettes at 8 to 10 cm with pink flowers in July and August. Blue salvia opens in June and July and starts the season off.

Plant Care: Give it full sun and average, well-drained soil. Water regularly in its first season. After that it's fairly drought tolerant, though a deep drink in long dry spells keeps it blooming. Cut spent spikes back to the foliage after the first bloom to encourage a second flush. A light shear keeps the mound tidy. Cut the stems down in late fall or early spring. Divide in spring every few years if it starts to thin in the middle.

History: 'Bumblesky' comes from Walters Gardens in Zeeland, Michigan, as part of the compact Bumble series. The species, Salvia nemorosa, grows wild in meadows and open woods of Europe and western Asia.

Final Thoughts: Hummingbirds and butterflies swing by, rabbits and deer don't. Trim after blooming and it rebooks. THE BUMBLES APPROVE.