Posted by
mcash70 (Near Kamloops, BC, Canada - Zone 3a) on Aug 28, 2014 2:55 PM concerning plant:
In past years I had little luck growing Salvia: They always got powdery mildew, became spindly, and finished blooming in no time. This spring while I was at the nursery, a plant with very striking blue flowers caught my eye. It was Victoria Blue Sage, Salvia farinacea. I decided to take a chance on this one, and I am very happy that I did.
After purchasing it in a 6-inch pot, I planted it in a part sun and shade area of the garden, adding a slow release fertilizer at the time of planting. With ample water it has grown vigorously, forming a nice clump and producing many spikes of beautiful, intense, deep-blue flowers on blue stems, above deep-green foliage. This is a beautiful easy-care plant and will be replaced next year, as it is an annual in my zone 3a garden.
Posted by
ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Sep 9, 2020 8:44 AM concerning plant:
Victoria Blue is a common cultivar and used to be the most common cultivar that I found being sold in the 1990's and up to around 2015 in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. Some newer cultivars have come forward recently to compete with it. This blue-purple blooming cultivar is more compact than the mother species, native to Mexico and Texas, and is usually about 18 to 20 inches high. It usually holds up well but I have seen it suffer some damage from strong wind & rain so that there is some breakage. It can grow back. Some milder winters in southeast Pennsylvania it survives the winter to re-sprout being a short-lived perennial in warmer zones starting with Zone 8, and this is especially true if the plants are close to a building to receive some warmth. It also re-seeds itself and the seedlings seem to basically come true to form, possibly a little taller. Overall, it is a great annual that is very reliable and easy to grow in sunny sites in dryish or mesic soils.
Posted by
lovemyhouse (Garland, TX (NE Dallas suburb) - Zone 8a) on May 6, 2013 1:23 PM concerning plant:
Wilts in North Central Texas' summer heat without supplemental water, but comes back strong every year.
Posted by
carlysuko (Oceanside, California. Sunset zone 24 - Zone 10a) on Mar 28, 2018 11:49 AM concerning plant:
An easy and beautiful perennial for me in zone 10a. Definitely worth growing as an annual for those areas in which it is not hardy, which I believe is up to zone 8. It not only self sows, but also gets bigger each year. It is herbaceous and very easy to divide, so I have more plants each year. Though most report its height topping out at around 2ft, in its third year here it has reached 4ft. It can be prone to powdery mildew so it's best to water from below. Spider mites, white flies and others also attack mine, so I spray with neem oil once in a while and that seems to work well. It attracts beneficial insects, such as bees and butterflies, as well as hummingbirds. In my garden I've also looked on as the lesser goldfinches go for the seeds and comically the stems bend under their weight.
It's also reported to be a good cut flower, which is rare among salvias.
The blue color is beautiful and they seem to pair well with pretty much any other plant and flower color. I have mine next to cuphea vermillionaire, cuphea firefly, with amistad in the back.
They do not require any fertilizer. Deadhead once the flowers start to die to promote more flowering. At the end of the season you can let the flowers go to seed to collect, or you can simply let them self seed. A beautiful versatile garden staple that I think most would enjoy having.
Posted by
Deebie (midstate South Carolina - Zone 8a) on Oct 19, 2015 9:03 PM concerning plant:
This salvia is perennial in my zone 8a garden and is easy to grow. It thrives despite our heat and humidity, but does require additional water if there is insufficient rainfall during hot dry periods. If faded blooms are removed, it will continue to bloom until frost. Feed lightly.