Salvia - Spring King

DESCRIPTION:  An attractive, well branched salvia producing volumes of tall, sturdy stems covered in breathtaking purple-blue flowers from mid summer to first frost; perfect for borders or beds with its bushy habit; looks fantastic in containers; best in full sun.

BOTANICAL NAME: Salvia 'Spring King'
OTHER NAMES: Perennial Sage, Meadow Clary, Meadow Sage
GROUP/CLASS: 
AVERAGE MATURE HEIGHT: 10-12" (25-30 cm)
AVERAGE MATURE SPREAD: 10-12" (25-30 cm)
SUN EXPOSURE: Full sun
FLOWER COLOUR: Purple-blue
FLOWERING TIME: Mid-Spring to fall
FOLIAGE COLOUR: Green
COLD HARDINESS: zone 4
WATER NEEDS: Average
OTHER FEATURES: Attracts Butterflies, Bee Friendly, Deer Resistant

Ornamental Features

Spring King Salvia has masses of beautiful spikes of blue flowers with violet overtones and purple calyces rising above the foliage from mid summer to mid fall, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its fragrant pointy leaves remain green in colour throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Spring King Salvia is an herbaceous annual with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Spring King Salvia is recommended for the following landscape applications:

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Spring King Salvia will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity extending to 3 feet tall with the flowers, with a spread of 20 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 16 inches apart. This fast-growing annual will normally live for one full growing season, needing replacement the following year.

This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under typical garden conditions. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. 

Spring King Salvia is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they