Perennial salvias make a great addition to ornamental borders, with their summer-long displays of spiky, nectar-rich flowers. Salvia semiatrata is a beautiful shrubby salvia, bearing lavender purple flowers that emerge from velvety calyces.
For best results grow Salvia semiatrata in a sunny, sheltered spot in well-drained soil. Deadhead spent blooms regularly to encourage flowers into mid-autumn. Mulch annually with well-rotted manure or garden compost. Salvia semiatrata is only half-hardy, so winter protection is recommended in the coldest areas, or grow in a container that you can move indoors. Prune back the oldest, woodiest branches in spring to produce fresh growth that will produce the most flowers.
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Salvia and wildlife
Salvia is known for attracting bees and butterflies/moths. It has nectar/pollen rich flowers.
