Name: Kermit Carter Elk, California (Zone 9a) Offering 400+ Salvias and counting
Black and Blue is a tried and true older variety. It has been bested by a number of newer varieties that have much better foliage and growth habit along with more and earlier flowers. More tolerance for less than ideal exposure (sun) as well.
Sometimes the newer varieties are released to increase a grower's sales. In this case the older variety is truly inferior to the latest and greatest.
