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Salvia 'Indigo Spires'
Indigo Spires Sage
Garden hybrid; S. longispicata × S. farinacea; discovered at Huntington Botanical Gardens, San Marino, California (1979)
Overview
Salvia × 'Indigo Spires' is a tall upright hybrid sage growing 36–60 inches (90–150 cm) tall and 36–48 inches (90–120 cm) wide. Very long twisting terminal spikes 8–16 inches (20–40 cm) long bear deep indigo-blue to violet tiny tubular two-lipped flowers. The spikes elongate and twist as they bloom upward — the twisting spike form is the key visual trait of this cultivar. Dark green ovate aromatic foliage. Square stems. The plant is a hybrid of S. longispicata × S. farinacea, discovered at Huntington Botanical Gardens, San Marino, California in 1979. Sterile hybrid — does not set seed. Sixteen weeks of continuous bloom from July through November. The large size requires substantial garden space. The plant can become leggy and open by late summer; mid-season pruning by one-third in August refreshes the form. Tender perennial: root-hardy in zones 7–10. In zones 7–8 the crown requires 3–4 inches (7–10 cm) of winter mulch. Grown as an annual north of zone 7. Hummingbird- and butterfly-pollinated. Deer-resistant. Drought-tolerant once established.
Native Range
Garden hybrid; S. longispicata × S. farinacea. Discovered at Huntington Botanical Gardens, San Marino, California in 1979.Suggested Uses
Used in perennial borders (back-of-border), hummingbird gardens, and containers of 10 gallons (38 L) or more. The twisting indigo spike form is the cultivar's signature. 16 weeks of bloom. Large plant (36–60 inches / 90–150 cm). Zones 7–10 (annual north of zone 7).How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 5'
Width/Spread3' - 4'
Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years
Colors
Bloom Information
Flowering from July through November, approximately 16 weeks. Deep indigo-blue to violet flowers in twisting terminal spikes 8–16 inches (20–40 cm) long. Sterile hybrid — no seed set.Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Deep indigo-blue to violet, tiny tubular two-lipped flowers in twisting terminal spikes 8-16 inches (20-40 cm)Foliage Description
Dark green, ovate, aromatic, 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long; slightly sticky surfaceGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Site in full sun (6+ hours). Well-drained soil pH 6.0–7.5. Tender perennial: zones 7–10. Mulch crown 3–4 inches (7–10 cm) in zones 7–8. Annual north of zone 7. Cut back by one-third in mid-August to refresh leggy growth. Sterile — no deadheading for seed.Pruning
Cut back by one-third in mid-August to refresh the form and encourage a second wave of spikes. Cut to 6–12 inches (15–30 cm) after the first hard frost or in early spring (March–April). Mulch crown for winter in zones 7–8.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
early spring
Maintenance Level
lowContainer Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 10 gallons