General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Dry Mesic
Dry
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 4a -34.4 °C (-30 °F) to -31.7 °C (-25 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 8b
Plant Height: 24 inches
Plant Spread: 24 inches
Leaves: Evergreen
Fragrant
Flowers: Showy
Other: Upright habit
Flower Color: Purple
Other: Deep violet-blue with dark purple stems
Flower Time: Summer
Late summer or early fall
Fall
Other: Deadhead faded flower stems to ensure more flowering throughout the season
Uses: Cut Flower
Dried Flower
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Rabbit Resistant
Humidity tolerant
Drought tolerant
Pollinators: Various insects
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots
Awards and Recognitions: Other: 2000 Outstanding New Perennial Award by the International Hardy Plant Union. 2013 Great Plant Picks award winner.
Child plants: one child plant

Image
Common names
  • Sage
  • Violet Sage
  • Ornamental Meadow Sage
  • Balkan Clary
  • Perennial Woodland Sage
  • Meadow Sage
  • Salvia

'Caradonna' was a featured
Plant of the Day for October 6, 2015.
Photo Gallery
Location: Missouri zone 6a
Date: 2021-05-23
Location: Sun Zone 6a
Date: 2012-05-28
Location: Hamilton Square perennial garden Historic City Cemetery, Sacramento CA.
Date: 2014-03-31
Location: Lincoln NE zone 5
Date: 2014-05-19
This salvia starts blooming the same time as tall bearded iris an
Location: Missouri zone 6a
Date: 2020-05-19
Location: Terrace garden left side.
Date: 2012-0615
A welcome sight as it returns each year.
Photo by Hamwild

Photo courtesy of Annie's Annuals and Perennials
Location: Nora's Garden - Castlegar, B.C.
Date: 2018-06-14
- Long stems means long blooming time.
Location: Nora's Garden - Castlegar BC
Date: 2016-06-12
 8:54 am. A stately blue purple presence in the garden, set off b

Photo courtesy of Annie's Annuals and Perennials

Courtesy Robin's Salvias
  • Uploaded by vic
Location: Fairfax, VA | April, 2023
Date: 2023-04-29
Location: Terrace
Date: 2013-0508
Just one of many that emerge between the pavers in spring and aga
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2007-08-26
Location: Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA
Date: 2019-05-21
Location: My back yard garden
Date: Summer 2011
Location: Terrace garden left side.
Date: 2014-05-17
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2015-09-16
Photo by kosk0025
Location: My garden in Kalama, Wa. Zone 8
Date: 2014-05-22
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: RHS Harlow Carr, Yorkshire, UK
Date: 2016-07-11
Location: Estonia
Date: 2021-06-18
Location: Sun Zone 6a
Date: 2012-05-28
Location: Maryland
Date: 2015-05-12
At dusk
Location: Terrace garden left side.
Date: 2014-05-17
Growing in between the bricks.
Location: Terrace garden left side.
Date: 2014-05-17
Location: Gothenburg botanical garden
credit: Averater
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2016-03-07
Planted in 2015 in a container.
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2015-09-16
Location: Maryland
Date: 2015-06-21

Photo Courtesy of Busse Gardens. Used with permission.
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: My garden in Kalama, Wa. Zone 8
Date: 2014-05-22
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: My garden in Kalama, Wa. Zone 8
Date: 2014-05-22
  • Uploaded by Joy

Date: 2016-08-21
Photo courtesy of Santa Rosa Gardens. Used with permission.
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2007-08-26
Location: Lucketts, Loudoun County, Virginia
Date: 2010-05-12
Photo by stilldew
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2007-07-28
Bottom of pic
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2007-07-28
Lower right of pic

Photo courtesy of Joy Creek Nursery
  • Uploaded by Joy
This plant is tagged in:
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Comments:
  • Posted by Catmint20906 (PNW WA half hour south of Olympia - Zone 8a) on Aug 26, 2014 6:51 PM concerning plant:
    Sage (Salvia sylvestris) 'Caradonna' produces lavender blue flower stalks from late spring to early fall. It does well in medium to dry soil in full sun. In my zone 7a garden, it was a pollinator magnet in the late spring and early summer when nectar sources were still limited, attracting both bees and butterflies. 'Caradonna' is a smaller cultivar than 'May Night', reaching less than 2 feet tall, but it has a similarly long bloom period given the right garden conditions.
  • Posted by BookerC1 (Mackinaw, IL - Zone 5a) on Jan 10, 2012 5:46 PM concerning plant:
    Details from plant tag, from Lowes:
    "Dig hole 2 times width of pot. Set top of root ball even with ground level. Combine planting mix and soil. Fill to ground level and tamp. Form water basin; water to settle soil. Add layer of mulch. Check often for water needs until established. Fertilize spring and summer, or before new growth begins. Cut back after flowering."
Plant Events from our members
Catmint20906 On May 9, 2015 Bloomed
lovesblooms On April 25, 2016 Bloomed
much earlier than last year's cooler spring!
lovesblooms On May 12, 2015 Bloomed
lovesblooms On March 18, 2015 Seeds germinated
lovesblooms On January 25, 2015 Seeds sown
winter sown
KSKimbrell26 On June 20, 2017 Bloomed
Cutting back after first bloom was a great tip as I was able to get 2 more blooms so far this year 👍🏻
paleohunter On September 10, 2022 Cuttings took
paleohunter On April 26, 2021 Cuttings took
paleohunter On April 26, 2021 Obtained plant
MissMew On June 4, 2021 Transplanted
Installed
MissMew From May 8, 2021 to May 10, 2021 Obtained plant
Suzanne - NVK
» Post your own event for this plant

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