‘May Night’ salvia
(Salvia x sylvestris)
Type: Perennial
Blooms: Indigo-purple spikes in late spring and early summer (reblooms with deadheading)
Light: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained soil, will tolerate drought
Pests: No serious pests
Size: 18 to 24 in. tall, 15 to 18 in. wide
Hardiness: Cold hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9
You can't go wrong with salvia!
Here’s some sage advice: You can’t go wrong planting salvia in your garden. It’s easy to grow, tolerates dry soil and full sun, hummingbirds love it and it’s pretty much pest-free. What more could you ask? Well, it’s gorgeous, too. That’s ‘May Night’ (‘Mainacht’) above. It’s one of the most popular salvias out there, for good reason: Its dark blue spikes bloom for more than two months if you keep it deadheaded. And it’s very cold hardy, too.
Relatives in other colors include ‘Rose Queen’, ‘Blue Hill’ (‘Blauhügel’) and ‘White Hill’ (‘Schnee-hügel’). ‘Caradonna’ looks a lot like ‘May Night’, but it has dark, almost- black stems.
Designing with ‘May Night’ salvia
When you’re designing your garden, a good rule of thumb is to contrast flower forms. Almost all salvias have spiky flowers, so pair them with daisy-shaped flowers, such as zinnias, gloriosa daisies or coreopsis for pleasing garden combinations.
Don’t have room for salvia in your garden? Try it as a container plant. Its long bloom time and tolerance of less-than-ideal conditions also helps it grow well in pots.
You Might Also Like:
The Secret to Designing with Different Flower Shapes
Meet More Long-Blooming Salvias
How to Grow Speedwell (Veronica)
See Our Collection of Garden Design Books
‘May Night’ salvia growing tips
This salvia is quite drought-tolerant and does best in well-drained soil. If you have heavy clay, you should amend it with plenty of compost before you plant. It’s also a sun-lover, holding up well in the heat of summer, although in hot Southern gardens, it may benefit from some afternoon shade.
Cut back the plant after blooming
After the spent stems finish blooming, cut plants back to the basal foliage. This sounds dramatic, and the plant may look a little ragged for a week or so, but in a couple of weeks a new mound of fresh foliage will sprout. Later there’ll be a second flowering, smaller and not as lush as the first, but greatly appreciated in the late summer garden. Cutting back also helps if your salvia has flopped open in the center. Although this is usually a sign that the plant needs to be divided, it can also happen if you have high winds or heavy rains.
Divide salvia in spring or fall
Divide your salvia in spring when the plant is still small enough that you can see what you’re doing. Or do it in early fall, when you can cut back the plant to make it easier to handle. Dig up the entire clump and cut it apart with a sharp spade or a soil knife, then replant the chunks.
You Might Also Like:
How to Divide 45+ of Your Favorite Perennials
Long-Blooming Perennials for Your Garden
Ultimate Perennials for Sun & Shade
