May Night Salvia

May Night Salvia gives gardeners a dependable way to add rich violet-blue color without adding a long care list. This award-winning perennial stays a tidy 18–24" tall, reblooms with deadheading and performs best in full sun with well-drained soil.Plant proven perennial performanceMay Night was named Perennial Plant Association Plant of the Year in 1997, and it still earns its place in sunny gardens. Its compact, upright habit makes it easy to use along borders, in pollinator gardens, near roses or in mixed perennial beds. You get strong color without a plant that sprawls, runs or takes over.Bring in pollinators, not browsersThe upright flower spikes attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds during bloom. At the same time, the aromatic foliage helps make May Night less appealing to deer and rabbits. For gardeners dealing with browsing pressure, that combination is a real advantage: more activity from the wildlife you want, less damage from the wildlife you do not.Keep color going with simple careThe first bloom usually arrives in late spring to early summer, with dense spikes of deep violet-blue flowers. After the first flush fades, deadhead the spent spikes to encourage another round of bloom. The purple calyces can hold color after the petals drop, helping the plant stay attractive even as the first flowers finish.Count on it in sunny, dry spacesOnce established, May Night is drought tolerant and does not need rich soil or heavy feeding. In fact, average to lean, well-drained soil helps keep the plant upright and tidy. Use it with black-eyed Susans, coneflowers, yarrow, catmint, roses, ornamental grasses or white perennials for easy color pairings that carry the garden into summer.