Nice clump of salvia

[hendi_alex]

I just love blue flowers!

[DankyDoo]

just wondering if u have ever started these from seeds and are they hard to start from seed?

[hendi_alex]

I bought a pack of salvia seeds last year, but have yet to plant them. Last year I did plant some false indigo, some blanket flowers, and some prairie mallow from seed. All germinated well and I think would have done well this spring. I neglected to water the plants in the fall, and had the prairie mallow potted in too dense soil. Most all blanket flowers survived and have been moved to the wildflower perennial garden. All but one prairie mallow and one false indigo died. In the future I will be starting more perennials from seed. Will also give them more attention during that first year from seed!

[henley]

I just got into gardening in 2008 and I had one of these inserted into a hanging basket and I had to set the whole basket in a big pot this salvia grew to be three feet tall and he even split in the wind and lived. I bought a pernnial of this to have forever in my garden.

[rainbowgardener]

Salvia is a great plant--very easy to start from seed, once established very tough and hardy, drought and pest resistant. Comes in a big range of beautiful colors. I have a perennial purple salvia, that in spring gets absolutely covered in spikes of deep intense purple flowers. After the first flush, if you keep it deadheaded, it keeps producing flowers all season though never as many at once as in the beginning. But I started with one plant (that I bought, sorry to admit!) and now have four of them scattered around my yard as it keeps getting bigger and I keep dividing it. It is also very easy to divide and transplant, doesn't seem to mind getting moved.

[The Helpful Gardener]

Alex, have you tried Sisyrinchium yet?

I have 'Lucerne' on my native border; a purpler cultivar, true, but I am still representing a native of my area

And yours. And a lovely blue... As is that Salvia; is it 'Blue Hill'?

I have 'May Night' and 'Caradonna', both far more purple than yours. I had been contemplating tracking down a 'Blue Hill' and you may have tipped me over the edge... I reaally like 'Caradonna' too, if you like purple, real purple this one is a winner...

HG

[hendi_alex]

Salvias are my latest infatuation. They have so much variety in color and height. Also, the hummers and the bees just love them. I'm sure that I have a few blue hills but the clump in the photo could be a mix of different named varieties.

Sisyrinchium is a lovely plant, will have to keep an eye out for some to put in my mostly native wildflower garden.

[applestar]

How about Amsonia tabernaemontana? Bought this one last year so this is the first time to see it in flower:

I have it growing next to an yellow Baptista. Great contrast.

[The Helpful Gardener]

Nice call AS; a great blue, but I think this one is even more notable for fall color; goes yellow in the foliage with just a hint of cold and holds it a while. I know we don't think of perennials as fall foliage plants much, but this is the one to change your mind about that. But yes, a true blue native...

HG

[pointcook phil]

Absolutely love salvias. have about 30 varieties so far. they are easy to propagate by cuttings.