Salvia x sylvestris 'Rugen'

A charming form of 'wood sage', the individual purplish-blue nectar-rich flowers that adorn 'Rugen's' dark upright stems really draw the eye, contrasting well with the mid-green foliage.  Flowering from May into July with regular deadheading of faded flowerspikes, its naturalistic good looks combine well with Verbascum, Allium 'Millenium' and Campanula glomerata as well as ornamental grasses such as Stipa tenuissima. 

Initially grown for a RHS show garden, it has since become a firm favourite at the nursery.  Bees and other pollinators seem to like it too.  For the best results plant it in a sunny spot in a light, fairly fertile, good soil that is moist but free draining, but it can cope with light partial shade too.  

Height x Spread:  50cm x 50cm