Since late May, Mystic Spires Blue salvia has been simply dazzling, attracting bees, butterflies and frequent stops by hummingbirds.
I always figured it would outperform my much beloved Indigo Spires salvia, but after a summer of managing them together I know the answer: Mystic Spires Blue is the must-have plant.
One of my favourite horticultural websites says: “Indigo Spires tends to keep growing and growing and then falling over under its own weight. Constant pruning and pinching will keep it in bounds, and removing the flower spikes after most of the flowers have dropped off will encourage more blooming.” I completely agree with this description of the problem.
This however, is not the case with Mystic Spires Blue. This stunning selection originated from Ball Flora Plant in 2006 and in addition to being named a Texas Super Star Winner it has constantly scored high in trials thought out the country. Many nurseries and flower suppliers have now made this a part of their product line.
While Indigo Spires will easily hit four to five feet in height, Mystic Spires Blue tops out at three feet, producing 12-inch spikes of glorious blue flowers all summer long. These are the kind of spikes that create excitement in a world dominated by round flowers.
If winter drainage is good, Mystic Spires Blue will be cold hardy through zone seven, like its predecessor.
We normally think about drainage in the spring and summer and rightfully so, but it is even more important in the winter for salvias.
Wet winter feet spells doom for salvias, lantanas and verbenas, but good winter drainage coupled with mulch will allow many plants to return in the spring far outside their hardiness zone.
Mystic Spires Blue comes from a cross of Salvia farinacea and Salvia longispicata, both from Mexico, so they are very tough and drought tolerant.
Plant your Mystic Spires Blue in full sun and well-drained, well-prepared soil. We have used them in a large rock staircase planting combined with Goldsturm rudbeckias, Pink Fountain gaura, and Surdiva scaevola.
Mystic Spires Blue is the quintessential cottage garden plant and will be a real photo stop combined with other perennials like purple coneflowers and summer phlox, and virtually all varieties of lantana. Partner it with gold or yellow flowers for a complementary colour scheme. The blue, however, is stunning with pink flowers, and will create an incredible patriotic look combined with Knockout rose and a white blooming grass like Lindheimer’s Muhly.
Remember, it is the spiky flowers like Mystic Spires Blue that rise up above the imaginary horizontal plane of your flower border creating interest and excitement.
Add the bees, butterflies and hummingbirds and you’ll agree that Mystic Spires is a must have plant in your garden too.