Each May I go to one of two conventional, traditional nurseries (garden centers) that sell many good annual flowers that are not sold at any of the big box stores with a garden section as Home Depot, Lowes, K-Mart, etc. and I buy several Black & Blue Sages in pots. I plant them in very big pots on the back deck or close to it, not only for its beauty, but for the female Ruby-throated Hummingbird that comes by during the summer. She really loves the tubular, dark blue-purple flowers of this annual. (She also loves the tubular, orange flowers of the Cigar-Plant Cuphea that I also plant nearby. She does not like the tubular, red flowers of the new dwarf cultivars of the Scarlet Sage. Hummingbirds used to adore the old, large cultivars of Salvia splendens that grew about 2 to 3 feet high.)
I planted two of the Salvia Purple Knockouts in 2017 -- this year they have large scapes with blooms and have multiplied a good deal. I am happy with this because I have another large area to cover and I can easily transplant them to different spots as it fills in.
One thing I've noticed is that the foliage is no longer as dark or purple as it once was. The underside of the leaves, however, is quite purple. I read the information on the plant's page and it indicated Purple Knockout is often self seeding but not always true to seed. I'll report back after I move them to an area with less direct sun and see if the leaves change.
Proven Winners is putting this knockout on garden center shelves this spring (2019). This bright magenta is a "breakthrough" color, according to the PW website. I'm not sure if it's a new cross between S. longispicata and S. farinacea or another induced sport from the 'Indigo Spires' line. According to the info on this database, there was an initial cross that gave us Salvia hyb. 'Indigo Spires', then a irradiation induced sport, 'Mystic Spires', and a colchine induced sport, 'Rockin the Blues'. For sure, it's nothing like the pale pink or lavender pink colors sometimes found in S. farinacea, and there's nothing remotely pink in S. longispicata varieties.
Another beautiful colored new salvia from Flowers By The Sea. FBTS just introduced this beauty for the 2019 season. FBTS sells, grows and specializes in salvias. They're a mail order nursery and are located in Elk, CA.
One of the new salvias in the FlowerKisser™ series from High Country Gardens and selected by chief horticulturist David Salman, who is the former founder of HCG. This one is a hybrid and has gorgeous dark purple flowers.
One of the new salvias in the FlowerKisser™ series from High Country Gardens and selected by chief horticulturist David Salman, who is the former founder of HCG. This one has beautiful Coral-Pink flowers.
I've grown this Salvia for about five years now. It is very happy in my warmest garden which may be zone 8 due to southern exposure and the house wall behind. There it blooms well in full sun and spreads every year. It grows roots along just below the surface and odd, woody tubers. It also lived in average sites here which should be about zone 7, and in some shade, but may not spread or persist long term. I tried storing some tubers dry in the basement but they did not regrow come spring. Tubers do no look like they can be cut apart like potatoes to grow, but rather seem to need to keep the stem they have. Watch bumblebees visit and bite the base of the flower to steal nectar.
Jame Sage (Salvia VIBE® Ignition Fuchsia) is brand new for the 2019 season. This is the third VIBE® Ignition salvia that Flowers By The Sea has introduced. The other two are Purple and White. FBTS grows, sells and specializes in salvias in their Elk, CA location.
Hybrid Bolivian Sage (Salvia x westerae 'Elk Hot Pink') is a beautiful new salvia that Flowers By The Sea introduced for the 2019 season. FBTS grows, sells and specializes in salvias and are located in Elk, CA.
Salvia 'Elk Orange Spires' is similar to the wonderful 'Scarlet Spires', but bred to be better. This salvia is a great candidate for a large container. Use a larger size than a 3 gallon pot.
Flowers By The Sea introduced this wonderful salvia for the 2019 season. FBTS grows, sells and specializes in salvias. They are located in Elk, CA.
Flowers By The Sea introduced 'Elk Screamin' Scarlet', a new and exciting salvia. FBTS grows, sells and specializes in salvias. They are located in Elk, CA.
Ground Ivy Sage (Salvia scutellarioides 'Elk True Blue') is a new introduction by the Elk, CA company, Flowers By The Sea. FBTS grows, sells and specializes in salvias.
Scarlet Sage (Salvia splendens 'Van Houttei Elk Giant Orange') is a new introduction for the 2019 season by Flowers By The Sea. FBTS grows, sells and specializes in salvias. They are located in Elk, CA.
Salvia 'Elk Cranberry Red' is similar to Salvia microphylla 'Killer Cranberry, but better. Introduced by Flowers By The Sea for the 2019 season. FBTS is located in Elk, CA, where they grow, sell and specialize in salvias.
Grown more for the foliage than the bloom, this plant is native to eastern USA. Listed as hardy to zone 6, it might be hardy to zone 5 if sited carefully. It likes a little afternoon shade in warmer areas.
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