Professional Growing Information There are salvias — and then there is this beautiful performer. Non-stop flowering in deep blue until frost here in NC. Pollinator treat. I am delighted to find a perennial that requires no dead-heading and can handle the heat and humidity of our 5 month summer. Yup, I am back to add a few more of these to my gardens. I suggest you add a few smaller perennials in front of these in your garden design.
Rockin'® Playin' the Blues® Salvia longispicata x farinacea
Exposure
- Part Sun to Sun
The optimum amount of sun or shade each plant needs to thrive: Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours).
Flower Season
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Mature Size
Height
24 - 48"
Spread
24 - 36"
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Details
Features
FANCY, yet UNFUSSY.Beautiful blue flowers all summer long. As the flowers age, the calyx remains deep-blue after the actual flower falls off, giving the impression that the entire flower stalk remains in flower giving a greater floral presence in the garden.
Award WinnerFragrant FoliageContinuous Bloom or RebloomerLong BloomingFall InterestHeat TolerantDeadheading Not NecessaryDrought TolerantAttracts:BeesButterfliesHummingbirdsResists:DeerCharacteristics
Plant Type:AnnualHeight Category:TallGarden Height:24 - 48 InchesSpacing:14 - 18 InchesSpread:24 - 36 InchesFlower Colors:BlueFlower Colors:PurpleFlower Shade:Blue-purpleFoliage Colors:GreenFoliage Shade:GreenHabit:UprightContainer Role:ThrillerPlant Needs
Light Requirement:Part Sun to SunMaintenance Category:EasyBloom Time:Planting To Hard FrostHardiness Zones:7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10bWater Category:AverageSoil Fertility Requirement:Average SoilUses:ContainerUses:Cut FlowerUses:LandscapeUses:Mass PlantingUses:Specimen or Focal PointUses Notes:Great in beds, along walkways, and on patios.
Maintenance Notes:Playin' The Blues™ is a wonderful annual Salvia (except in frost free zones) compact and richly colored it is easy and trouble free. It is sterile so it will not set seed and that means it will just bloom, and bloom and bloom all season without stopping.
You can easily trim to keep the shape or size where you want it, and it will branch out and become even thicker and more full of flowers.
Regular watering and fertilizing will keep the plant at maximum color and growth but it is amazingly tough and once established in a pot or the garden will tolerate lower levels of food and water. However, severe drought will cause lower leaves to drop and if this happens give it a quick haircut removing the upper 1/3 of growth and once it back to normal watering it will fill back in.
Playin' The Blues™ is a big attractor of bees! They love the sweet nectar in the flowers, so place it accordingly; a bit farther from seating areas if bees are a concern. It is always great to have a plant that will support our native bees!!
Rockin'® Playin' the Blues® Salvia longispicata x farinacea 'Balsalmispim' USPP 29,604 -
9 Reviews
5841321-
Joan McAndrews, North Carolina, United States, 15 weeks ago
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I planted these in raised deck containers in early summer (to replace a different salvia that underperformed.) They quickly grew to catch up and surpass the other plants in the pots. Definitely a pollinator magnet, always in bloom. They grew to about 3’. Eventually a few stems split, but I expected that due to how exposed my containers are to high wind. The stems are very strong and become woody at the base by the end of the season. Despite splitting, the branches did not wilt. I staked them up and the plants didn’t miss a beat. I used a liquid fertilizer once a week. This plant will be in my yard next season for sure, but more of them. I plan on pruning to develop better side branching.
Lisa G., Pennsylvania, United States, 15 weeks ago -
This plant is crazy good! The size and the amount of blooms is truly wonderful. This will be a must in our garden for as long as we can find it each year. Wonderful color, fun structure, pollinator magnet - truly a proven winner!
Christopher, New York, United States, 34 weeks ago -
This is an outstanding plant. I used it in a mass planting in my front yard flower bed (gets sun all day long.) It is not fussy. Once established it keeps going strong, requires no deadheading, fills out beautifully, retains its colour all summer long, and is a massive pollinator magnet. I used it as a filler in a bed and it did not disappoint. It provides outstandingly super performance. It's elegance and beauty are second to none. I'll have it back next summer for sure. Five stars!
Therese Koturbash, Manitoba, Canada, 35 weeks ago -
Beautiful dark blue spikes stand upright and bloom all summer and through fall until hard frost. The bees love it.
Sandra Bryant, Ontario, Canada, 1 year ago -
One of the best perennials I’ve ever grown. Planted in April and were in continuous bloom until we had an early hard freeze mid November. Held up incredibly well during a very hot, dry summer with little supplemental water. Planted in an area with about 4 hours of midday sun. Looked gorgeous with lime coleus and orange lantana. Pollinator magnet!
Lisa Mason, 1 year ago -
I’m so delighted with this plant! I purchased eight of these to intermingle with rudbeckia and echinacea in several gardens. The flowers just keep coming, especially after I prune the rangier wands. The plants get quite enormous toward late summer, so plan for nearby flowers to get crowded out late in the season. As a plus, bees and butterflies go nuts over it.
Eileen Mullen, New Jersey, United States, 1 year ago -
I agree with the previous reviewer: This is a strong and rangy plant. I didn't expect it to be a standout in my yard but was! The colorful blue calyxes really do keep the impact going so it never needed deadheading to look good. It got taller than I expected it to be (about 3 to 4 feet tall) but as the plant aged, the individual stalks sagged just a little. Since the foliage was also so vigorous the saggy habit looked great. Place it next to a groundcover rosebush with yellow or orange blooms for a really pretty combo.
Deb Wiley, Iowa, United States, 3 years ago -
Vigorous and rangy, but the branching is strong, providing balance, resists splitting. It shows few symptoms when neglected, and is responsive to feeding.
Josh Miller, Michigan, United States, 3 years ago
2 Awards
Award Year Award Plant Trial 2018 Top Performer Penn State 2018 Best Polliinator-Friendly Perennial Dallas Arboretum 3 More colors
3 Recipes
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