Salvia Nemorosa ‘Caradonna’

Product Details

Used to great effect in borders and as a companion plant in the Rose Garden here at the farm, perennial Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ produces richly colored vertical spikes of violet-blue flowers that rise to 2’ on purple-black stems that contrast nicely with the plant’s gray-green foliage. ‘Caradonna’ is best planted in drifts or masses, and it serves as a magnet for hummingbirds and other pollinators. The flower spikes create painterly effects when planted amid companions including pink- or yellow-flowering Roses, the mounding chartreuse flower clusters of Alchemilla mollis, the velvety gray leaves of Stachys byzantine ‘Big Ears,’ and the tall spires of Lupinus ‘Red Rum.’ It’s terrific for containers, too. Winner of the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Pollinators and hummingbirds love the spikes of densely packed Salvia flowers which come in a range of colors: white, pink, red, purple and blue. Long-lasting Salvia blooms can extend from late spring into fall with dependable color. Salvias are especially valuable where summers are hot and dry, for they ignore heat and go steadily about the business of making flowers. Because some Salvias endure colder climates better than others, we classify certain varieties as Perennial Salvia and other less hardy varieties as Annual Salvia. The genus Salvia is part of the Mint (Lamiaceae) family, so most all have square stems and a strong scent when their leaves are crushed.

For more information on growing Salvia, click Growing Guide.