Salvia, Big Blue

Big Blue is seed produced, meaning it's a great value for the garden shopper. It is different, too, in that it is vigorous but controlled, unlike the Indigo Spires. It will reach 24- to 36-inches tall and 18- to 20-inches wide and it will bring in pollinators. At the University of Georgia trial where a dozen salvias were grown, this was the only seed variety; the others were reproduced using vegetative propagation. Big Blue won hands down. Pan American Seed has seemingly done the impossible with Big Blue and you’ll love it. Throughout the country, this dazzling blue salvia is being promoted as an annual, and a fine one it will be. In zones 8 and 9, however, we are already hearing of a spring return in fertile well-drained soil. So, my take is, expect an annual and be thrilled with a return. In the landscape, if you are looking for a way to create more interest in your flower border this year, then, by all means, plan on adding some spiky flower texture from Big Blue. In the garden world, round flowers like zinnias, marigolds, and even petunias often dominate. You can almost draw an imaginary horizontal plane or line across the top of your bed. But it's flowers like Big Blue that rise up above that imaginary line with their glorious spikes of color and create a real showstopping moment.