Salvia x sylvestris 'Balsalarv' BLUE MARVEL woodland sage
size/type
low perennial,low perennial
usual height
0,3-0,4m
usual width
0,3-0,4m
leaves
deciduous broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
showy
colour of flowers
blooming time
June-August
location
full to partial sun
USDA zone (lowest)
4 (down to -34°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Salvia is a large genus, containing about 900 species. In our climate mostly common (evergreen) sage is grown for culinary uses. Also, very popular are those of subtropical origin that are used here as annuals with long flowering season, especially in public areas. We concentrate on herbaceous perennials which are not widely cultivated and we believe that there are species, hybrids, and varieties worth the job.
Description of the plant:
BLUE MARVEL is a unique sage variety with large, hypnotizing deep indigo blue flowers, possibly the bluest we’ve seen so far on any woodland sage. They are formed in erect, 10-15 cm tall spikes atop 25-30 cm long stems. Blooming begins in early June and continues for 3-4 weeks. Then the plant re-blooms with shorter inflorescences until early autumn. If you cut the whole plant back to the ground after the first flowering phase, and feed it a little, it will re-grow into a nice and bushy clump with plenty of flowering stems offering the same show of large flowers in late summer. The plant makes compact and dense tufts about 30 cm tall and wide.It was bred by a Dutch breeder Christa Kievit who devoted her life to plant breeding ever since she left the Wageningen University & Research in 1986. In 2011 she was awarded by her long-term employer Kieft-Pro-Seeds for 25 years of dedicated long-time service in breeding. She bred and introduced many new and beautiful plants and enriched our gardens with varieties out of which more than 50 were patented internationally. BLUE MARVEL sage was patented in 2016, with patent No. PP27018.
Sage will grow in almost any well-drained soil. For best results grow it in light, humus-rich, well-drained soil in full sun or light shade. It needs no fertilizing, only in very poor or compacted soils it will benefit from occasional feeding with a balanced fertilizer. In early spring remove all above-ground parts except for rosette of new or over-wintered, healthy leaves lying flat on the ground. It is perfectly hardy to about -34°C (USDA zone 4) and will grow in outdoor pots and throws, too.
Last update 27-06-2021
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