Salvia nemorosa Blue Bouquetta 'Alklf'

The Salvia nemorosa 'Blue Bouquetta' Alklf is a particularly compact perennial sage variety that is renowned for its remarkable flowering, both in terms of its duration and its vibrant purple-blue colour. This selection, like all woodland sages, is a very hardy and low-maintenance perennial. It is easy to combine in a border, where it will bring fabulous bursts of colour and a constant ballet of bees. And to appeal to gardeners without gardens, it also adapts very well to container cultivation.

The Salvia nemorosa 'Blue Bouquetta' is a hardy perennial plant from the Lamiaceae or Labiate family. Its wild ancestor, the woodland sage, is a species native to central Europe and western Asia. The 'Blue Bouquetta' cultivar forms a branching clump, with an adult size that does not exceed 30 cm in height when flowering and 40 cm (16in) in width. This perennial develops from a prostrate rosette composed of oval, rich, dark green leaves with toothed edges, which are aromatic when crushed. It has a bushy, low, highly branched and sturdy habit in summer. Flowering begins in May-June and continues until October if the soil does not dry out too much and faded flowers are regularly pruned. It takes the form of terminal clusters with numerous tiny purple flowers tightly packed against each other, surrounded by purple bracts. The beautiful flower spikes, rich in nectar, delight bees and butterflies. The rosette of this sage persists to some extent in winter. Its very cold-resistant stump does not fear harsh winters if the soil is properly drained.

Plant 'Blue Bouquetta' sage along the edge of a border in combination with carnations, coreopsis, or catmints, for example. It is an excellent candidate for ornamenting terraces and balconies, as well as being a privileged host for low-maintenance borders. Easy to grow, this plant is one of the hardiest sages and, as such, a fantastic garden perennial that does not disappoint. It withstands everything, even wind, cold, heat, and poor soils. This variety is particularly suitable for a romantic and natural garden, for example along a pathway, but it also easily blends with all types of flowering plants. It looks superb in the company of Lens landscaper roses, or the 'The Fairy' rose, with a red rose for a strong contrast (Rouge Cascade), or even with perennial geraniums. It also pairs well with shrubby lavateras, penstemons, and peonies.

With over 900 species of annuals, perennials, and soft-wooded shrubs distributed throughout the world, excluding very cold regions and tropical forests, the genus Salvia is the most diverse in the Lamiaceae family. The name Salvia, which dates back to Roman times, derives from the Latin salvus meaning 'healthy', alluding to the medicinal properties of common sage.