Salvia nemorosa Bumblesky - Woodland Sage

The Salvia nemorosa 'Bumblesky', like all the varieties of the 'Bumble' series, is characterized by a compact habit and generous flowering that attracts many pollinating insects. This one has sky blue flowers. It is a neat-looking plant that produces numerous small flowers grouped in spikes, above a tuft of very dark green foliage that is pleasantly aromatic. Not very tall, hardy, bright, it is easy to associate in the edge of a flowerbed as well as in flower pots. 

The Salvia nemorosa 'Bumblesky' is a hardy perennial plant of the Lamiaceae or Labiate family. Its wild ancestor, wood sage, is a species native to central Europe and western Asia. The cultivar 'Bumblesky' was selected in the USA by Walters Gardens. It has a branched tufted habit, with an adult size that will not exceed 30 cm in height when flowering and 35-40 cm (14-16in) in width. This perennial develops in spring, from a prostrate rosette of oval, rough, very dark green leaves with toothed edges, pleasantly aromatic when crushed. It has a bushy, very branched and sturdy habit. The flowering begins in May-June and continues until August-September if the soil does not dry out too much and the faded flowers are regularly pruned. It takes the form of terminal clusters bearing many small pale blue flowers (0.5 to 1 cm (0in)) with green bracts. The beautiful nectar-rich flower spikes delight bees and butterflies. The vegetation of this sage will persist more or less in winter. Its very cold-resistant stump is not afraid of harsh winters if the soil is properly drained. 

Plant the 'Bumblesky' sage in the edge of a flowerbed in association with carnations, coreopsis or catmints, for example. It is an excellent candidate for ornamenting terraces and balconies, but also a preferred host for low-maintenance flowerbeds. Easy to grow everywhere, it is also one of the hardiest salvias, and as such is a wonderful garden perennial that will not disappoint.  It withstands everything, even wind, cold, heat and poor soils. This variety is particularly suitable for a white garden, for example along a pathway, but it associates very easily with all types of flowering plants. It will be superb in the company of pink-flowered plants like the rose 'The Fairy', a red rose for a strong contrast (Rouge Cascade), or with perennial geraniums. It also goes well with shrubby lavenders, Penstemons, peonies, etc. 

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