Salvia, Blue Anise Sage, Brazilian Sage 'Black and Blue'
Salvia coerulea
Family: | Lamiaceae (lay-mee-AY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Salvia (SAL-vee-uh) (Info) |
Species: | coerulea (ko-er-OO-lee-uh) (Info) |
Cultivar: | Black and Blue |
Additional cultivar information: | (aka Black & Blue) |
Synonym: | Salvia guaranitica |

Category:
Perennials
Height:
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)
4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m)
Spacing:
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Sun Exposure:
Sun to Partial Shade
Danger:
N/A
Bloom Color:
Dark Blue
Medium Blue
Bloom Time:
Mid Spring
Late Spring/Early Summer
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall
Mid Fall
Foliage:
Herbaceous
Shiny/Glossy
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets)
From softwood cuttings
Seed Collecting:
Collect seedhead/pod when flowers fade; allow to dry
Foliage Color:
Orange/Apricot
Bloom Characteristics:
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Flowers are fragrant
Water Requirements:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Where to Grow:
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Auburn, Alabama
Prattville, Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Vincent, Alabama
Anthem, Arizona
Cabot, Arkansas
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Amesti, California
Carlsbad, California
Chico, California
Clayton, California
Corralitos, California
Elkhorn, California
Fairfield, California
Fresno, California
Grass Valley, California
Interlaken, California
Knights Landing, California
Lake Arrowhead, California
Long Beach, California
Merced, California
Miranda, California
Pajaro, California
Penn Valley, California
Redding, California
Sacramento, California
San Jose, California(3 reports)
Santa Rosa, California
Santee, California
Sonora, California
Watsonville, California
Dover, Delaware
Brooksville, Florida
Daytona Beach, Florida
Debary, Florida
Deltona, Florida
Eustis, Florida
Fort Myers, Florida
Hollywood, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida(2 reports)
Keystone Heights, Florida
Leesburg, Florida
Lithia, Florida
Longwood, Florida
New Port Richey, Florida
Orange Park, Florida
Pensacola, Florida(2 reports)
Quincy, Florida
Riverview, Florida
Saint Petersburg, Florida
Sanford, Florida
Sebastian, Florida
Spring Hill, Florida
Tallahassee, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Trenton, Florida
Valparaiso, Florida
Vero Beach, Florida
Wauchula, Florida
Winter Springs, Florida
Yulee, Florida
Atlanta, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
Avondale Estates, Georgia
Carrollton, Georgia
Colbert, Georgia
Cordele, Georgia
Dacula, Georgia
Douglas, Georgia
Jonesboro, Georgia
Lula, Georgia
Marietta, Georgia(2 reports)
Warner Robins, Georgia
Zebulon, Georgia
Des Plaines, Illinois
Elmhurst, Illinois
Indianapolis, Indiana
Davenport, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
Derby, Kansas
Shawnee Mission, Kansas(2 reports)
Barbourville, Kentucky
Georgetown, Kentucky
Hebron, Kentucky
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Belle Rose, Louisiana
Zachary, Louisiana
Cumberland, Maryland
East New Market, Maryland
North East, Maryland
Saint Clair Shores, Michigan
Stevensville, Michigan
Walled Lake, Michigan
Glencoe, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Florence, Mississippi
Madison, Mississippi
Greenwood, Missouri
Saint Louis, Missouri
Hudson, New Hampshire
Browns Mills, New Jersey
Englishtown, New Jersey
Mount Laurel, New Jersey
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Roswell, New Mexico
Averill Park, New York
Binghamton, New York
Himrod, New York
Lancaster, New York
North Tonawanda, New York
Southold, New York
Staten Island, New York
Tonawanda, New York
Water Mill, New York
Asheville, North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Clemmons, North Carolina
Concord, North Carolina
Elizabeth City, North Carolina(2 reports)
Greensboro, North Carolina
Kannapolis, North Carolina
Matthews, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina(2 reports)
Cincinnati, Ohio
Geneva, Ohio
Madison, Ohio
Edmond, Oklahoma
Guthrie, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Eagle Point, Oregon
Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Hermitage, Pennsylvania
Malvern, Pennsylvania
Norristown, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Saint Thomas, Pennsylvania
South Montrose, Pennsylvania
Camden, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina(2 reports)
Conway, South Carolina
Ladys Island, South Carolina
Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
North Augusta, South Carolina
Okatie, South Carolina
Orangeburg, South Carolina
Summerville, South Carolina
Sumter, South Carolina
Arlington, Tennessee
Germantown, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Madison, Tennessee
Toone, Tennessee
Angleton, Texas
Arlington, Texas
Austin, Texas(3 reports)
Belton, Texas
Boerne, Texas
Bryan, Texas
Bulverde, Texas
Cedar Park, Texas
Cleburne, Texas
Coppell, Texas
Copperas Cove, Texas
Dallas, Texas(4 reports)
Fate, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas(3 reports)
Garland, Texas(2 reports)
Grand Prairie, Texas(2 reports)
Hemphill, Texas
Houston, Texas(2 reports)
Humble, Texas
Huntsville, Texas
Iredell, Texas
Irving, Texas
Jacksonville, Texas
Keller, Texas
Kerrville, Texas(2 reports)
Killeen, Texas
Leander, Texas
Lewisville, Texas
Liberty Hill, Texas
Lindale, Texas
Lubbock, Texas
Lufkin, Texas
Mc Kinney, Texas
Oakhurst, Texas
Portland, Texas
Princeton, Texas
Rockwall, Texas
Rowlett, Texas
San Antonio, Texas(2 reports)
Sugar Land, Texas
Victoria, Texas
Arlington, Virginia
Hampton, Virginia
Leesburg, Virginia
Mc Lean, Virginia
Newport News, Virginia
Bryn Mawr-Skyway, Washington
Freeland, Washington
Kalama, Washington
Seattle, Washington(3 reports)
Vancouver, Washington
Parkersburg, West Virginia
Pewaukee, Wisconsin
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Neutral | On Jul 12, 2020, jeda from Kenosha, WI wrote: This Salvia plant was on a table at my local nursery with a sign on it that said "Hummingbirds like it". The nursery has this table set up every year. This Spring I decided to try Black and Blue. |
Positive | On Dec 29, 2019, Rests from Bryan, TX wrote: Hated this plant at first. Planted 3 in plastic pots. Two of the blue and one of the pink. They only lived about 3 weeks. This time I planted one in a clay pot. It does very well. I think in the plastic pots, the soil stayed too wet. The only problem so far has been the extreme winds that break the stems very easily. It died down in the summer. I thought it was dead, but left it alone just see for sure. Here in the dead of winter, it is beginning to come back up in 3 spots in the pot. I hope to try and divide it in the spring and maybe plant them in the flower bed. I am hoping it completely takes over the bed. Nothing except for maybe lantana is ever invasive here in Central Texas. Here it is either lots of rain for weeks or no rain for months. And our city water ... read more |
Positive | On Jul 2, 2019, wendymadre from Petersburg, VA wrote: In my Zone 7B garden ( I was recently informed that it is not 7A), I had to move the black and blue salvia because it was spreading too vigorously and crowding the nearby rose. I split it up and put it in two other spots in the garden. It is fine in one of them. The other bed has become too shady and I am going to relocate the salvia to a sunnier area, near purple coneflowers, purple monarda, centaurea, rudbeckia, coreopsis and white yarrow. The blue will stand out nicely. The guarantica has been surviving the winters here without any special protection. The first couple years I didn't think it was coming back, because it sprouts up a little later in the spring, so I bought a couple more. I have had enough to be able to give some away, but it is not a problem like the ruellia and wi... read more |
Positive | On Jun 28, 2017, Adrienneny from New Jersey 6b, NJ wrote: Black and Blue is not as tall as Blue Ensign and Amistad but it's proven to be quite a tough plant. It survives our 6/7 zone without protection and has even spread a bit. It's very easy to pull up and transplant though. I have it in full sun, well draining soil, with various fertilizers but the leaves still look like chlorisis when they start to flower. When the temperature cools, I may transplant it as it also takes a lot of space without flowering until late June unlike other salvias. |
Positive | On May 1, 2017, magsgarden1 from North Berwick, ME wrote: There are so few true blue flowers, this one is a joy.I am planting it in a new garden this year as an annual, and can't wait to see how it does. Here in Zone 5b I have always planted it in large blue and white pots along with white cascading petunias, blue lobelia, and white impatiens or bacopa. It always surprises me the first time every year I see a hummingbird at it; I'm so used to them at the bright red/orange/hot pink zinnias, lantana, and fuchsia. Stems can be a bit fragile, it does appreciate some support. |
Positive | On Dec 14, 2016, Susan_Hartwig from Lancaster, NY wrote: This plant is very attractive to hummingbirds. I have this, along with Argentine skies planted along my southern foundation and both have overwintered in my zone 6a garden the last 4 years. Even after an average of 20° in February and temps that dipped to -10° some nights. The soil is well drained, but moist as it sits under a spigot. In my containers, I combine it with Moss Verbena. It looks very nice together. This year I may add a guaranatica Amistaad to the foundation planting and see if it overwinters. I found that the hummingbirds like it even more than the black and blue. I love them all though. |
Positive | On Oct 26, 2015, wingsoffreedom from San Jose, CA (Zone 9b) wrote: I planted mine in a 5 gallon container and it took off with regular watering. Hummingbirds visit this salvia first among all my other salvias with similar looks (Amistad, Wendy's Wish) Absolutely love it due to the hummer activity. |
Positive | On Jun 24, 2015, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote: Black calyx and flower stems set off the true blue flowers. Much nicer than the other cultivars, in my opinion. |
Positive | On Jun 24, 2015, Stay95 from Indianapolis, IN wrote: For the first time in my life I have no yard or garden space to till up as I moved into a second story apartment about 6 years ago. Not to be denied my gardening passion, I started looking for plants that would do well in containers and which also attract hummingbirds. I read about Salvia guaranitica last year, and as it is known to be a favorite with the birds, plus the vivid blue is such a great color, I picked one up at a local nursery. I put it in a 14" clay pot and it did great - a hit with me and the hummers! Knowing there would be little chance of it living through the winter outside, before the killing frost hit I brought it inside and took it into the spare bedroom; it wintered over rather easily. I just let it die back gradually in the window, keeping the soil on the dry sid... read more |
Positive | On May 29, 2015, Joyous from Himrod, NY (Zone 6a) wrote: This is the third year it has returned in our yard. It is slow to show signs of life. I just saw a couple of small leaves here just the other day. We had a brutal winter and I forgot to cover it with mulch and leaves yet it has survived our 6a zone. |
Positive | On Apr 17, 2014, ButterflierLady from Smithville, TN wrote: I bought one last year and it's come back after a bad winter. I hope I have this variety because I would like to plant it on a slope that is eroding and I WANT it to be invasive. I only hope it will grow in our TN clay. |
Positive | On Apr 3, 2014, lejardin24 from Hermitage, PA wrote: Very hardy to our 5a zone, enduring some really tough winter conditions. Herbaceous perennial. Once established, this plant is happy to be ignored, except by honeybees, pollinators, beneficials, and hummingbirds who find it irresistable. The flowers are held high (about 24-36") and true blue in color. They complete a patriotic backdrop with companion red and white flowers in front. |
Positive | On Mar 27, 2014, amelliso from Lubbock, TX (Zone 7b) wrote: Tried several times in the past to grow this plant, with no luck. I think the heat killed it - summers with record heat lately in the low 100's for extended periods. But, last year I planted one in a bed that gets afternoon shade from a porch cover. I was pleasantly surprised this month when I discovered it coming back up and spreading by roots/runners to pop up about a foot away, as well. It's mixed with Salvia farinacea Henry Duelberg seedlings. I have high hopes that this year it will survive and actually bloom. *crossing fingers* |
Positive | On Feb 20, 2014, Lovehum wrote: Among my top hummingbird plants. Likes well-draining, rich soil with compost and appreciates some shade. Wish me luck, I'm hoping they'll overwinter in the ground. |
Positive | On Dec 4, 2013, Rickwebb from Downingtown, PA wrote: Anise-flowered Sage is a tropical perennial plant from Brazil that is used as an annual. In a house with lots of light, it can be brought indoors for the winter. It is new on the market. I first saw it being sold in 2010, I believe. Not all garden centers sell it, but many do now. I have rooted some stem cuttings in water like Coleus, but they all don't root so easily in water. It is a strong, easy annual plant for beds or containers. Bees and hummingbirds really relish the flowers. The flowers and foliage sort of stink a little. |
Positive | On Aug 11, 2013, Bazuhi from Downers Grove, IL (Zone 5a) wrote: August 2013(First time growing this plant) |
Positive | On Apr 14, 2013, May_Z from Grass Valley, CA (Zone 9a) wrote: I grow this plant in Northern California, USDA zone 9a. We get snow here, I had 3" of ice on my ponds in February and temps down to 23F. However, these plants came back for me---and spread like crazy already, so early in spring. Not only that, but they seeded, I have seeds up everywhere. |
Positive | On Dec 10, 2012, arthurb3 from Raleigh, NC (Zone 7b) wrote: A Beautifull plant. Unique flower. Not so aggressive here in Raleigh, NC but it does slowly creates a large clump. |
Positive | On Oct 22, 2012, XemaSab from Redding, CA wrote: I bought one, and I initially put it front and center in my garden. Then I read everyone else's comments about how invasive the plant can be, so I moved it to the back fence. |
Positive | On Apr 30, 2012, hamptons from Watermill, NY wrote: The first time I owned this plant was as part of a pot of various plants my husband had bought me for Mother's Day. I was flabbergasted to see a hummingbird -- the first hummingbird I'd ever seen on my property -- come up to the porch and feed from the flower. I went down the block to the greenhouse where he'd bought the potted flowers and told them all about this blue plant that attracted hummingbirds and how I wanted to buy more. Luckily, they had 2 plants left, so I bought them and put them in my flower bed and I had hummingbirds all summer. |
Positive | On Apr 19, 2012, sierra77 from Cedar Valley, OK (Zone 6b) wrote: Sounds like the farther south this plant is grown, the more it spreads. I have it in two areas of my garden in Oklahoma, borderline between zones 6-7. One gets almost a full day of sun. We have rich, heavy clay soil. It has spread slowly over the past four years I've had it and two years ago I divided it and planted some at the northwest corner of the house where it only gets a max of half a day of sun and the soil is quite moist as it is near the water hydrant. I was concerned that it might not over-winter in the moist soil but it has both years, growing amid a bed of chameleon plant. I've also seen it growing on the east side of a house and it was about 3 feet tall, nice specimen. Just beautiful and our hummers really go for it. |
Positive | On Mar 24, 2012, Aegletes from Debary, FL wrote: Both the foliage and flowers of this plant are attractive. The hummingbirds seen to prefer these out of everything else in my garden. I have not found this to to be invasive and, in fact, have had some difficulty establishing it in certain areas of my garden. It is easy to propagate. |
Positive | On Mar 21, 2012, zkmayo from Matthews, NC wrote: I have had this plant for about 4 years ago. I planted it from a 1 gallon plant. I wouldnt call it invasive, but I would call it above-average aggressive. It has spread from about 6 inches wide to about 4 feet. It is a beautiful plant all spring and summer. Hummingbirds love it. I will probably cut some of the tubers out or some of the plant itself later this year as it has just about grown as large as I want it to. |
Positive | On Jan 14, 2012, anniegolden from Dover, DE wrote: I grew this for the first time (Dover, Delaware, zone 7a) during the summer of 2011. It was a hummingbird magnet. If you sat and stared at this plant for more than about 2 minutes, you were guaranteed to see hummers. It grew to about 3 1/2 feet tall and just as wide, and I had to occasionally whack it back a little. This spring I'm going to plant it in front of a window in a protected area, and from what I've read in other comments, I can probably expect it to overwinter. I love this plant. |
Positive | On Dec 23, 2011, AmandaEsq from Greensboro, NC (Zone 7b) wrote: I planted 3 in a bed which receives full sun but only for part of the day. The plants are lined up in a north-south direction, and the one farthest from the sun/gets the least sun is much smaller than the plant up front which receives FS for about 8 hours in summer. |
Neutral | On Dec 6, 2011, Sandwichkatexan from Copperas Cove, TX wrote: Thrives on neglect but becoming quite the thug in the bed it is planted in . |
Negative | On Aug 19, 2011, CCPikie from Elmhurst, IL wrote: I've seen this billed as a "xeric" plant, or requiring little water. I bought a potted "Black and Blue" and put it on the south side of my house where it was in full sun for about five hours a day. I amended the soil with compost. I had to water it like crazy just to keep it alive. It took all growing season just to reach about two and a half feet. |
Neutral | On Aug 7, 2011, gffncincy from Monfort Heights East, OH wrote: ok, now i feel really terrible as I see all these comments that the plants are thick and invasive, I can barely get mine to grow a foot the past two years and is not blooming any longer. I agree, the hummingbirds LOVE this plant, and I have two, but neither of them grow much. The plant is in full sun, in well drained soil, I've added compost to the area as it has some clay in the area. Any suggestions? The nursery told me to divide it, but I barely have any stems on it now. It did good the first two years I had the plant. |
Neutral | On Jul 11, 2011, HunterOrion from Warrington, FL wrote: I'm going to go with neutral on this one just because as others have said - it _can_ be horribly invasive, at least under the right conditions. It is a pretty plant, attractive to hummingbirds, and very drought-tolerant; but if I'd had any idea how tough it was going to be to eradicate from the flowerbed I originally planted it in, I'd never have put one there. [and in fact I found this page while looking for some way to get rid of them permanently that doesn't involve herbicide or digging up the entire bed - and the latter I'm not even sure would do it, unless I remove every inch of soil a foot or more down.] |
Positive | On May 22, 2011, themadchemist from Johnston City, IL wrote: Invasive? |
Positive | On Mar 19, 2011, hummerdude from Dallas, TX wrote: This is an easy gorgeous perrenial that will attract lots of bees, hummers and human admirers. It blooms until first frost. This is the the third year after 3 or 4 original plants and it is coming back quite thick this spring (and we got down to 10 degrees this winter!) Now I can share some with my sister as well as put some in the backyard. I would say it's hardy--not invasive--quit whining people! -- HSH, Dallas, Texas |
Positive | On Jan 23, 2011, lsuzuki from Beavercreek, OH (Zone 5b) wrote: This plant has overwintered 2 years in a row with a thick mulch of shredded leaves in my zone 5B/6A garden. The spot where it successfully overwintered is very well drained and has a light soil. However, this is the only spot where it successfully overwintered for me - it didn't make it in more typical Ohio garden conditions (heavy with clay). Occasionally, I've had it self seed, but not prolifically. It roots easily from cuttings. This is my favorite salvia and the hummingbirds love it too. |
Positive | On Dec 11, 2010, Hamchuk from Weaverville, NC (Zone 6b) wrote: This is a lovely and surprisingly hardy plant, highly recommended. No issues with invasive spreading, after how we've treated it I'm shocked that it's still alive! We're planning on propagating from cuttings. |
Positive | On Dec 10, 2010, Get_growing from Dallas, TX wrote: Thanks to all for warning about invasive nature! I've had no problems so far, probably because of the awful heat last summer (mine got all-day sun which was too much for them).That said, colors are beautiful, long bloomer, and of course, very hardy! Think I'll move to containers... |
Positive | On Nov 27, 2010, sherriseden from Bloomington, IN (Zone 6a) wrote: Gorgeous true blue flower; I plant as an annual in my z5 - part sun to part shade (I have no full sun) and it just blooms its heart out! Love it. |
Positive | On Aug 9, 2010, RemyO from Tonawanda, NY (Zone 6b) wrote: It is planted near the south side of my home and has returned for at least 3 maybe 4 winters. |
Positive | On Aug 4, 2010, joeswife from (Debra) Derby, KS (Zone 6a) wrote: This Salvia comes back for me in zone 5 ( Kansas) after winter and spreads like crazy. I love it. |
Positive | On Jun 2, 2010, gardeningfun from Harpersfield, OH (Zone 5a) wrote: Grown only as annuals here in Madison and Geneva, Ohio. My friend in Madison, however, has one coming back this spring! We shall see how it does over summer. She said she mulched over it real well to protect it some for winter, just to see. Seems to have rewarded her. It is in a pretty populated bed with lots of large trees and tall shrubs behind it. We love this plant and it is one of my favorite salvias. |
Positive | On Mar 21, 2010, ladybug_pc from Adairsville, GA (Zone 7b) wrote: This is a great plant. Humming bird's love it and the previous post is correct; the honey bees "cheat" and gather nector from the base of the flower. I haven't found this plant to be invasive. It just gradually becomes a thicker, slighty wider clump. I have part of the fence line edged with this plant (it grows 3 feet tall for me) and I have a large clump on the back side of my chaste tree. The dark blue flowers and lime green leaves on this plant make a beautiful contrast. |
Positive | On Sep 21, 2009, Kim_M from Hamburg, PA (Zone 6b) wrote: Haven't found it to be invasive yet...It can take over if it wants! Very Very attractive plant. |
Positive | On Aug 12, 2009, lothianjavert from North East, MD (Zone 6b) wrote: I love this plant, but I think the hummers love it even more. I have a large variety of agastache, lobelia and other salvias, but this is by far the hummingbirds' favorite. |
Positive | On Jul 27, 2009, Hemophobic from Kannapolis, NC wrote: I love this salvia and have it at both houses, the one here in Kannapolis and the one in Asheville. It grows well, overwinters, of course, and draws bees and hummers. So far it has been well behaved in my gardens. |
Positive | On May 24, 2009, cedar18 from Lula, GA (Zone 7b) wrote: A beautiful plant; fantastic color and the hummers (as everyone says!) loved it. It did NOT come back for me but I bought two more. Oddly, one is purple. |
Negative | On Jul 18, 2008, slrob from Fort Worth, TX wrote: Beautiful dark blue flowers that hummingbirds love. Unfortunately, it tried to take over my flower bed. Extremely aggressive, I've pulled the original 3 plants and the remaining roots are still popping up new plants 4 months later, even through the landscaping fabric!! Had I known it was so aggressive, I wouldn't have planted it. Replaced it with a salvia greggii. |
Negative | On Jun 12, 2008, khasdorff from Victoria, TX (Zone 9a) wrote: As already stated, a beautiful plant, gorgeous color and hummers love it, but....it has become a real thug in my garden. Completely died to the ground over winter, but came back with a vengeance and has overtaken and choked out everything around. Trying to eradicate it is challenging, to say the least. Just when I think I have pulled up every little underground runner...up pops a bright green leaf! I would only recommend this for out of the way areas or in a container. I'm not sure even a container could control it! |
Neutral | On Apr 29, 2008, Lily_love from Central, AL (Zone 7b) wrote: This is my first spring with this newly added beauty to the garden, unsure how it's going to perform in my zone, thus I'll leave this as anitial entry, plus picture of how lovely it looks in my sunny flower bed. |
Positive | On Mar 19, 2008, TropiTiki from Murrells Inlet, SC (Zone 8b) wrote: I planted this two years ago and it has become one of my faves. Everyone that sees it loves it, and it is a favorite of the hummingbirds also, as well as hummingbird moths. Last year the two together grew over three feet wide and three feet tall. I'm getting a little afraid that it may turn invasive on me since I have five plants coming up in the bed this year and three more in the grassy path, but it'll be worth the trouble. |
Positive | On Oct 28, 2007, Marilynbeth from Hebron, KY wrote: One of my favorite Salvias! I love it and so do the Hummers! Very beautiful in bloom! Beautiful blue color! It's an annual for me in zone 6a and I get new plants each year, but gotta have it! |
Positive | On Oct 27, 2007, Sashagirl from Davenport, IA (Zone 5a) wrote: I discovered this plant just this year, and wonder how I ever got along without it!! |
Positive | On Apr 7, 2007, Debndal from Coppell, TX (Zone 8a) wrote: The hummingbirds come to this plant first in my yard, and I have many of their favorites, flame acanthus, red salvias, and turks cap. I have 2 of the b&b and the one that gets just a little bit of shade does the best. The other gets afternoon reflected heat off the fence and it suffers in July/August. I do worry that if I don't watch for the underground offshoots in early spring when it starts to leaf out that it could be a little invasive, but if caught early, the offshoots are easily removed. Highly recommend this easy perennial. |
Positive | On Dec 27, 2006, pal2k9s from Lake Arrowhead, CA (Zone 8a) wrote: In the spring I planted 3 four-inch tall 'Black and Blue' plants in a dry, sunny area of my garden where I couldn't get much to grow. They rewarded me with amazing growth by summer, reaching almost 5 feet tall. In my garden, they bloom constantly until the first freeze. The flowers are gorgeous, and the scent of the leaves is amazing. And they reseed very nicely as well. They enjoy a good drink once a week unless it's really hot- then an extra watering or two keeps them happy. |
Positive | On Oct 15, 2006, tacobe11e from Arlington, VA (Zone 7a) wrote: I wish my guaranitica would spread; I love everything about it!! My plant's been growing in my garden for 3 years and hasn't expanded it's footprint at all. It's tall, healthy, and blue. Everyone who's seen it has wanted one. |
Positive | On Sep 6, 2006, kman_blue from (Zone 6b) wrote: I planted some of these as annuals about 3 years ago, but much to my surprise they've come back from the roots every year since. I planted them in a full sun spot with sandy very well drained soil. They've been through about -3F here so far and they only die back to the ground. I think the sandy well drained soil might help them survive colder temperatures than they normally would. It might be just a matter of time until we have a cold enough winter to kill them, but I'm going to enjoy them until that happens! |
Positive | On Aug 6, 2006, Gina_Rose from Hollywood, FL (Zone 10b) wrote: I saved one of these plants from a whole collection of dying ones at a Lowe's... it's definitely thanked me. It's growing beautifully in an 85%-shaded area, which is what I think saves it from wilting if it hasn't been watered within a week. When I can, I'll try to grow a cutting to place in more sunlight; hopefully it's hardy enough to survive here without a tree to shelter it since I really love salvias but don't have enough "dappled" shade. (I wouldn't suggest "full sun" for at least 75% of plants that say they can take full sun here!) |
Positive | On May 10, 2006, cottonfarm from Midlothian, TX (Zone 8b) wrote: This is one of my favorite plants, it seems to bloom so well. It is such a nice companion to reds and yellows in the perrenial beds. |
Negative | On Apr 29, 2006, crowellli from Houston, TX (Zone 9a) wrote: Does extremely well in Houston, Tx. I bought this plant at a sale last fall and didn't know if it would make it through winter. It not only made it, it never stopped blooming! The tag said it would be 18" x 18", but mine is already about 36" x 36" and I'm not sure how much larger it will get as it's only April. Spectacularly intense blue blooms. It's placed in front of a yellow Esperanza and the combination is beautiful. |
Positive | On Sep 2, 2005, kizilod from Cumberland, RI (Zone 6b) wrote: 2005 |
Positive | On Oct 16, 2004, Kruch72 from Elgin, IL (Zone 5a) wrote: Best plant in garden for attracting hummingbirds and a bonus White-lined Sphinx Moth. |
Positive | On Sep 5, 2004, tazzy from Sand Springs, OK (Zone 7a) wrote: grows well in Tulsa and Sand Springs ok. |
Positive | On Sep 4, 2004, jnn from Pittsboro, NC (Zone 7b) wrote: The blooms are a stunning color and the hummingbirds love it! We bought ours late in the season this year, so it hasn't gotten that big, but I hope it will grow a bit taller next year. |
Neutral | On Jun 13, 2004, BUFFY690 from Prosperity, SC (Zone 7b) wrote: When I saw these particular plants together at my local nursery I thought it had seed pods on it with the flower buds being BLACK and then I looked closer and noticed the BLUE flowers and then I looked at the tag and saw the name B:ACK and BLUE and I thought it would be an cool plant for a drier part of my garden. In the sunlight you can really see the black and blue standing out. |
Positive | On Apr 14, 2004, yayaqueen from Harker Heights, TX wrote: I agree that this is a very attractive plant...for me to look at and for the bees and butterflies to enjoy. However, before I brought mine home Feb 2003, no one mentioned anything at all about how it would spread by underground roots (I suppose). Last year it grew nearly 4 feet tall and wide and was almost stunning against my white board fence. This year I was surprised to find that I have the original plant and 4 of its offspring...they're growing within 3 or 4 feet of the mother plant. While I think they're attractive to look at...especially right now with the black stems and chartreuse leaves...I didn't particularly want them to completely invade my side yard and 1 came up on the other side of my fence in my neighbor's yard. If it continues to spread like this, I may have to comple... read more |
Positive | On Apr 14, 2004, htop from San Antonio, TX (Zone 8b) wrote: 'Black and Blue' Salvia guaranitica has cobalt blue, tubular, 2 inch long blooms that have a hood-like upper lip and a shorter lower lip that points downward. The dark stems and dark purple, nearly black calyces (the structures that enclose the base of the petals) make it a very interesting looking plant. They do not smell like anise. The individual flowers appear on showy 10-15 inch spikes. It does best in part shade/ filtere shade in my yard. The summer heat and sun causes it to wilt if it receives too much sun. But, if it is in total shade, its bloom production is poor. It has produced new plants by short runners. |
Positive | On Sep 16, 2003, penpen from North Tonawanda, NY (Zone 6a) wrote: This plant is a tender perennial in zone 6 (western NY) so I planted it in a container so that I can overwinter it in my garage. It was very small when I purchased it in a 4" pot. this spring. It is now nearly 3 ft. tall (Sept) and blooming prolifically. My hummingbirds have really enjoyed it tremendously this summer. |
Positive | On Jan 25, 2003, vroomp from Marietta, GA (Zone 7a) wrote: This plant did well in a semi-protected part of my yard in full sun. It has come back each year bigger and more full of blooms. Zone 7 Atlanta |
Positive | On May 3, 2002, loisbeth wrote: S. guaranitica 'Black & Blue' is an improved version of this shrub-like perennial, as it does not spread as much as other varieties. |