Salvia x sylvestris 'May Night' ('Mainacht')

Sunset

Zones 2-10, 14-24, 31-41

Full

Moderate

Salvia x sylvestris 'May Night' ('Mainacht')

Lamiaceae (Labiatae)
Perennials

SALVIA

All sages have square stems and whorls of two-lipped flowers, either distinctly spaced along flower stalks or so tightly crowded that they look like one dense spike; some species have branched inflorescences. Flower colors range from white and yellow through salmon and pink to scarlet and pure red, from pale lavender to true blue and darkest purple. A few sages have fragrant blossoms. Many have aromatic foliage. Sages attract hummingbirds, bees, butterflies.

Salvia x sylvestris

Like its parent S. nemorosa but more compact, with stems that are less leafy. Oblong to lance-shaped, medium green, scalloped leaves are wrinkled, softly hairy, to 3 in. long. Typically unbranched or fewbranched flowering stems to 6– 8 in. long, set with pinkish violet, 1-in. blossoms. White forms are also available. Blooms summer through fall if faded flowers are removed.

'May Night' ('Mainacht')

Grows to 2–2 1/2 ft., bears 3/4-in. indigo flowers with green bracts (purplish at base), begins blooming in midspring.