Professional Growing Information 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!
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 -
4 Reviews
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Lisa Mason, 6 weeks ago
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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, 17 weeks 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, 2 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, 2 years ago
8 Awards
Award Year Award Plant Trial 2019 Silver Medal Champaign County Illiniois Master Gardener Idea Garden 2019 Top Performer - Fall Planting into Summer Mounts Botanic Garden 2019 Top Performer Young's Plant Farm 2018 Perfect Score All Season - Spring Mounts Botanic Garden 2018 September Showstopper Champaign County Illiniois Master Gardener Idea Garden 2018 Best Polliinator-Friendly Perennial Dallas Arboretum 2018 Gold Medal Champaign County Illiniois Master Gardener Idea Garden 2018 Top Performer Penn State 3 More colors
4 Recipes
1 More Recipes- Neptune with thrillerRecipe
What you'll need
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Color SchemePastel MixExposurePart Sun to SunPot Size12" -
- A Night at the OperaRecipe
What you'll need
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Color SchemeMonochromaticExposureSunPot Size14" -
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