Black and Blue Salvia
Salvia guaranitica
Salvia guaranitica is an upright, branching perennial featuring bright green, wrinkled, aromatic foliage and striking, deep dark-purple to black calyces holding vibrant blue or dark purple tubular flowers.
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal blooming.
- Water
- Requires moderate watering. Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Established plants have moderate drought tolerance, but prolonged dryness will reduce flower production.
- Growth
- Herbaceous perennial with an upright, bushy growth habit, reaching heights of 3 to 5 feet and spreading about 2 to 3 feet with a moderate growth rate.
Care instructions
Provide full sun to partial shade in consistently moist, well-draining soil. Water regularly during dry spells and apply a balanced fertilizer once a month during the active growing season.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun to partial shade, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal blooming.
Watering
Requires moderate watering. Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Established plants have moderate drought tolerance, but prolonged dryness will reduce flower production.
Soil
Prefers rich, loamy, well-draining soil with an optimal pH range between 6.0 and 7.0.
Hardiness zone
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10; grown as an annual in colder regions.
Growth habit
Herbaceous perennial with an upright, bushy growth habit, reaching heights of 3 to 5 feet and spreading about 2 to 3 feet with a moderate growth rate.
Bloom season
Blooms from early summer until the first autumn frosts, producing large tubular flowers with very dark calyces.
Propagation
Easily propagated through stem cuttings taken in spring or summer, or by division of established root clumps in early spring.
Common pests & issues
Generally trouble-free, though occasionally susceptible to powdery mildew, root rot in poorly draining soils, and attacks by aphids or whiteflies.
Similar species
Salvia amistad and Salvia 'Black Knight', which can be distinguished by subtle variations in flower color saturation, calyx darkness, and overall leaf shape.