An interesting story about Ultra Violet: I actually bought six: the first from Park Seed, and five more from High Country Gardens a month or so later, since Park Seed went out of stock.

The one from Park Seed was The Salvia That Launched My Love Affair With Salvias. It was the most exquisite thing I'd ever had in my garden, from the tiny greggii leaves on gently waving stems to this unbelievable jewel tone, constantly shifting shades between velvety violet and satiny-near-blue in the sun. I would just stare at it, enchanted, and eventually realized I had to have more of this plant, right now.

Park Seed's Ultra Violets were out of stock (not two weeks after I'd placed my order), so I ordered five from High Country Gardens instead. I patiently pinched for branching as they grew to match the size of my original one, but when they bloomed I was disappointed. HCG's Ultra Violets were not the same mesmerizing purple as Park Seed's. They were more of a flat violet with pinky tones. Pretty, but not nearly as captivating as my first one, which--judging by color alone--looked like an entirely different salvia among them.

I blame the vast differences in location and plant culture between the two companies, not the companies themselves. But I hope I find the Ultra Violet I lost three years ago, since either they didn't come back the next year or I forgot they were there when digging that spring. Park Seed no longer has it in inventory.

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This is a new hybrid Salvia selected by Lauren Springer Ogden and Scott Ogden. Discovered in their Ft. Collins garden, 'Ultra Violet' is a hummingbird-initiated cross between blue-flowered Salvia lycioides and rose-pink Salvia greggii.

Salvia 'Ultra Violet' was introduced by David Salman of High Country Gardens (Santa Fe, NM) in 2008.

I've been growing it a few years and it's a beauty! I thought I had pics of it from my garden, but amazed that I don't yet. I'll have to try and take some pics of it this year.

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