Description
Plant Details
Botanical Name: Salvia x sylvestris ‘Mainacht’
Host Plant to: Native bees, hummingbirds, butterflies
Nectar Plant to: Swallowtails, Painted Ladies, hummingbirds
Plant Life Cycle: Hardy perennial
Light Requirements: Full sun
Soil Type: Well-draining; tolerates poor or sandy soils
Moisture Requirements: Moderate; drought-tolerant once established
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4–9
Plant Height: 18–24 inches
Plant Spacing: 15–18 inches
Bloom Time: Late spring to early fall
Bloom Color: Deep blue to violet
Special Features: Deer-resistant, attracts pollinators, long bloom season
Description
I’ve grown salvia may night in the worst spots — full sun, dry soil, no mulch — and it just kept going. The flowers shoot up like little purple-blue towers, and somehow they always look neat even when everything else looks fried. I usually plant it near walkways or in between other perennials that don’t bloom as long.
If you’re into bold color and low effort, may night salvia is worth a shot. It doesn’t care much about weather or deer, and once it’s in the ground, it kind of takes care of itself. The leaves are dark and tidy, and the stems hold up even when it’s windy. You don’t have to do much, but if you trim it after blooming, it’ll probably flower again later in the season.
A lot of people grow it just for looks, but the bees and butterflies really like the blue salvia flowers too. I’ve seen it planted in both really polished landscapes and in wild garden beds — it fits either way. It also has this nice scent that keeps some bugs away. If you want a no-fuss perennial that looks sharp and keeps blooming, this one’s got you covered.