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Blue Hill Salvia

By , About.com Guide

Picture of Blue Hill salvia flowers.

Picture of bumblebee enjoying a Blue Hill salvia flower.

David Beaulieu

Taxonomy of Blue Hill Salvia:

Even experts in plant taxonomy have a difficult time with "Blue Hill" salvia plants. You'll encounter all of the following scientific names for plants similar to the one in the picture at right:
  • Salvia x superba 'Blue Hill'
  • Salvia x sylvestris 'Blue Hill'
  • Salvia x sylvestris 'Blauhügel' (its name in Germany, where the plant began)
  • Salvia nemorosa 'Blue Hill'
  • Salvia nemerosa 'Blue Hill'
Blue Hill salvia plants sometimes bear the common name, "garden sage." "Blue Hill" is the cultivar name.

Plant Type for Blue Hill Salvia:

Blue Hill salvia plants are herbaceous perennials.

Characteristics of Blue Hill Salvia:

Blue Hill salvia plants put out small, lavender-blue flowers on spikes and reach 18"-20" in height, with a spread a bit less than that. The flowers are a lighter shade of blue than those found on 'May Night' salvia and 'Caradonna' salvia.

Sun and Soil Requirements for Blue Hill Salvia:

Grow Blue Hill salvia flowers in a sunny area with a well-drained soil. Although drought-tolerant once established, a moderate amount of water must be supplied to young plants.

Planting Zones for Blue Hill Salvia:

Blue Hill salvia flowers are best grown in planting zones 4-8.

Care for Blue Hill Salvia:

If you deadhead Blue Hill salvia flowers (i.e., remove spent blooms), the plants will flower all summer long. These perennials tend to flop over at the sides; to support them for better display, consider encasing the plants in a peony ring.

Uses for Blue Hill Salvia:

Blue Hill salvia leaves are fragrant enough to warrant drying, so that you may include them in potpourris.

Wildlife Attracted to Blue Hill Salvia:

Blue Hill salvia flowers attract butterflies and bees. Fortunately, deer are not attracted to these plants, making them useful for deer control.

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