Ice Blue Salvia is a favored perennial, offering both beauty and ease of cultivation. Its distinctive “ice blue” flowers enhance garden aesthetics, providing a vibrant and inviting outdoor space. This variety is popular for its charming appearance and straightforward nature.
Understanding Ice Blue Salvia
This captivating perennial, Salvia nemorosa ‘Salute™ Ice Blue’, typically reaches a mature height of 12 to 16 inches, with flower spikes extending to about 16 inches. It spreads 10 to 29 inches wide, forming an upright, bushy clump.
Ice Blue Salvia is hardy in USDA Zones 3 to 9, demonstrating resilience across a range of climates. Its flowers emerge in striking shades of lavender-blue, powder blue with lavender undertones, or light icy blue. The aromatic foliage, which remains green throughout the season, provides a pleasant contrast to the vibrant blooms.
Planting and Establishment
Successful establishment begins with planting in spring after the last frost, or in fall in milder climates. A site receiving full sun (at least six to eight hours daily) is crucial for optimal flowering. While it can tolerate some partial shade, too little sun may lead to leggy growth.
Well-draining soil is essential, as it does not tolerate standing water. If your soil is heavy clay, amend it with organic matter like compost to improve drainage. When planting, dig a hole slightly wider and deeper than the root ball, ensuring the top is level with the surrounding soil.
Space plants 10 to 16 inches apart to allow for their mature spread and provide adequate air circulation. After placement, backfill gently and water thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots. Keeping the soil consistently moist during the initial establishment period is important for root development, though care should be taken to avoid overwatering.
Ongoing Care and Maintenance
Once established, Ice Blue Salvia demonstrates considerable drought tolerance, requiring less frequent watering than during its initial growth phase. Allow the top 2 to 3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Container-grown plants will need more frequent watering due to faster soil drying.
Fertilization needs are minimal, as these plants are light feeders. An application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer or a layer of compost in early spring is generally sufficient to support healthy growth and blooming. Excessive fertilization can lead to leggy growth and cause the plant to flop.
Deadheading spent flower spikes encourages the plant to produce new blooms throughout its long flowering season. In early spring, prune back any dead stems to the ground. In colder zones, the plant dies back to the crown in winter, regrowing from the base in spring, and may benefit from mulching around the roots for added protection.
Benefits and Landscape Uses
Ice Blue Salvia offers several advantages for garden designs. Its long blooming season, extending from late spring through early fall, provides continuous color in the landscape. The unique icy blue hue of its flowers adds a serene and cooling element to garden palettes.
Beyond its aesthetic contribution, this plant attracts beneficial pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Its established drought tolerance makes it an excellent choice for water-wise gardens and areas prone to dry conditions. Ice Blue Salvia is also resistant to deer and rabbits.
Its versatility allows for diverse landscape applications, including mass plantings, border edging, or as a vibrant component in mixed perennial beds. It also performs well in containers. The sturdy flower spikes are suitable for cutting, providing fresh blooms for indoor arrangements.