Salvia Arctic Blaze Purple

Salvia  Arctic Blaze Purple is a hardy shrubby sage with sturdy stems, weather resistant, and continuously flowering from late spring to autumn if the soil remains slightly moist in summer. Its bright purple flowers bloom abundantly on a bush adorned with pleasantly aromatic small green leaves. Cold and drought resistant, it is a very good plant for ornamental purposes in sunny flower beds or balconies.

Salvia greggii Arctic Blaze Purple is part of a series of recent shrubby sages called "Arctic Blaze", selected in the USA by Star® Roses & Plants. These varieties are the result of a research program on the hardiness of shrubby sages. They have sturdy stems that are less prone to breakage, and their growth does not collapse under the effect of rain or wind. The wild ancestor of Arctic Blaze Sages, called Texas Sage, belonging to the mint family, is an aromatic plant native to the mountains of eastern, western, and southern Mexico, as well as southern Arizona.

Arctic Blaze Purple Sage is a bushy and upright perennial shrub with a slightly wider-than-tall habit. It will reach approximately 70 cm (28in) in height and 80 cm (32in) in width, depending on the growing conditions. The nectar-rich flowering is particularly long and generous, starting from May and continuing until autumn unless interrupted by summer drought or cold. The elongated dark flower spikes emerge from the foliage. Each flower measures barely more than 2 cm (1in) in length. The two-lipped corolla, enclosed in an almost black calyx, displays a beautiful purple hue. The flowers live for barely a day, covering the ground with their petals in the evening, but will already be replaced the next morning. The foliage consists of small elongated leaves, 2-3 cm (1in) long, light green, thick, and aromatic, slightly sticky, releasing a strong essential oil with a fresh and tangy scent when heated. This foliage can persist in very mild winters. In case of intense drought, the plant may partially lose its leaves without affecting its health. New buds will develop with the return of rain. The plant can withstand brief frosts of around -15° C (5°F) in well-drained soil.

This Arctic Blaze Purple shrubby sage can be used in pots and in flower and shrub beds. It accompanies the spring blooms of tulips and peonies, as well as those of roses, bellflowers, and other summer perennials. But its association with autumn asters is fabulous: choose those that require little maintenance, such as Aster ericoides, Aster turbinellus, or Aster amellus, for example. In rock gardens or dry gardens, pair it with rosemary, Perovskia, Caryopteris, Gauras, and tall Sedums (Sedum Matrona).

In Mexico, delicious tea is made from the leaves of the greggii sage, which is called "mountain myrtle" there.