Blue Anise Sage, Anise Sage, Anise-scented Sage, Brazillian Sage
With its stunning blue flowers and attractive foliage, Salvia guaranitica is a captivating perennial that adds a touch of elegance and vibrant color to any garden.
Salvia guaranitica, commonly known as the blue anise sage, hummingbird sage, or Brazilian sage, is a species of Salvia native to a wide range of South America, including Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina.
Habit and Size: Salvia guaranitica is a clump-forming perennial with an upright growth habit. It typically grows to heights of 2 to 5 feet (60 to 150 cm) with similar spreads. Its size may vary depending on growing conditions and specific cultivars.
Foliage: The leaves are medium green, lance-shaped, and up to 6 inches long (15 cm), with a slightly serrated edge. They emit a subtle aniseed aroma when crushed.
Flowers: The standout feature of Salvia guaranitica is its striking intense blue, purple, or white tubular flowers, usually with darker purple calyces. These grow in whorls, clustered along the plant’s stems and creating a spectacular display. Each flower is about 2 inches long (5 cm)3, with a two-lipped bloom characteristic of the sage family.
Blooming Season: Blooming from midsummer to the first frost, this salvia provides a long-lasting splash of color in the garden.
Hardiness: Salvia guaranitica is hardy in USDA zones 8 through 10. This tender perennial is generally treated as an annual in cooler areas (if planted in a protected location with winter mulch, the plant might survive a mild winter in zones 7).
Uses: Its vibrant, deep-blue flowers and long blooming period make it an excellent choice for borders, cottage gardens, and wildlife gardens. It also does well in containers. With its delightful scent, it’s a good choice for sensory gardens.
Pollinators: The flowers are a favorite of hummingbirds and butterflies, making Salvia guaranitica an excellent choice for a pollinator garden.
Toxicity: There are no significant toxicity issues for humans, but as with many plants, it may cause stomach upset if ingested.
Deer and Rabbit: Deer and rabbits typically avoid Salvia guaranitica, making it a good choice for gardens where these creatures are common.
Drought: Once established, Salvia guaranitica is fairly drought tolerant but prefers consistent moisture for best growth and flowering. It is also heat tolerant.
Invasiveness: While not considered invasive, this salvia can spread enthusiastically in favorable conditions. It’s recommended to monitor its growth and control its spread if necessary.
Salvia guaranitica, or the blue anise sage, offers a variety of benefits that make it a compelling choice for any garden.
Striking Aesthetic: The deep blue to purplish-black flowers of this plant are a standout feature that can create a dramatic splash of color in your garden. Their unique shade is less common in most gardens, thus providing a distinctive appeal.
Long Blooming Season: This salvia blooms from midsummer to the first frost, providing months of vibrant color when many other plants have finished their display.
Attracts Pollinators: The tubular flowers are a favorite of hummingbirds and butterflies, making this an excellent choice for attracting these delightful creatures to your garden.
Deer and Rabbit Resistant: These plants are typically avoided by deer and rabbits, making them a safe choice in areas where these animals might be problematic.
Drought Tolerance: Once established, Salvia guaranitica exhibits a fair amount of drought tolerance, though it does prefer consistent moisture.
Versatility: This plant does well in borders, containers, and cottage-style gardens, offering a variety of landscaping possibilities. It can be used as a standalone specimen or planted en masse for a more dramatic effect.
Fragrance: The leaves of the blue anise sage give off a subtle aniseed aroma when crushed, adding an extra sensory dimension to your garden.
In summary, if you’re looking for a plant that offers visual impact, versatility, and the added benefits of fragrance and attracting wildlife, then Salvia guaranitica would be a perfect choice.
| Hardiness |
8 - 10 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
8 - 11 |
| Climate Zones | 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
| Plant Type | Perennials |
| Genus | Salvia |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Summer (Mid, Late) Fall |
| Height |
2' - 5' (60cm - 150cm) |
| Spread |
2' - 5' (60cm - 150cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Fragrant, Showy |
| Tolerance | Drought, Deer, Rabbit |
| Attracts | Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
| Landscaping Ideas | Wall-Side Borders, Beds And Borders |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden |
Salvia guaranitica, with its vibrant blue flowers, is a wonderful addition to any garden and can be used in a variety of ways to enhance your landscape.
As a Border Plant: Salvia guaranitica’s tall, vertical growth habit and brilliant blooms make it an excellent choice for the back of a border or along a fence line. It can create a colorful backdrop for other perennials.
Hummingbird and Butterfly Garden: Since it’s a favorite of hummingbirds and butterflies, consider including it in a garden designed to attract these beautiful creatures. Pair it with other nectar-rich plants like butterfly bush, zinnias, or monarda.
Cottage Style Gardens: Salvia guaranitica can add a touch of charm to a cottage-style garden. Its vibrant color and informal growth habit can blend well with other cottage garden favorites like roses, daisies, and delphiniums.
Container Gardens: Given the right size container, this salvia can do well in a pot, either as a single specimen or paired with trailing plants that can spill over the edges of the container for a more dynamic arrangement.
Mixed Perennial Bed: Salvia guaranitica can be a striking addition to a mixed perennial bed. It pairs well with plants that bloom in contrasting colors like yellow black-eyed Susans or white Shasta daisies.
Mass Planting: For a dramatic effect, plant several Salvia guaranitica together in a mass planting. This can create a sea of blue that is particularly striking.
Coastal Gardens: This salvia can tolerate the challenging conditions of coastal gardens, including salty air and sandy soils, and can provide vibrant color in these landscapes.
Salvia guaranitica pairs well with a variety of plants that share its growing conditions and provide contrasting colors or textures. Here are some plants that can serve as great companions:
Rudbeckia fulgida (Black-eyed Susan): The bright yellow flowers of Black-eyed Susan contrast beautifully with the blue of Salvia guaranitica.
Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower): Echinacea’s pink to purple flowers and textured leaves add contrast and attract additional pollinators.
Phlox paniculata (Garden Phlox): Its clustered pink, purple, or white flowers add variety and complement the blue salvia.
Lavandula angustifolia (English Lavender): The gray-green foliage and purple flowers of lavender provide a lovely contrast to the deep blue flowers of Salvia guaranitica.
Achillea millefolium (Yarrow): With its feathery foliage and clusters of flowers in a variety of colors, yarrow can make a good companion.
Crocosmia: These are bulbous plants known for their brightly colored, funnel-shaped flowers. They bloom from mid to late summer, complementing the Salvia’s blooming period. Crocosmia plants are available in a variety of warm shades like red, orange, and yellow, which contrast nicely with the cool blue flowers of the Salvia guaranitica.
Zinnia: Zinnias are an excellent companion for Salvia guaranitica due to their wide range of vibrant colors and long blooming period. These annuals love sun and heat, and their flowers bloom in an array of shapes and sizes, adding texture and diversity to the garden.
Coreopsis (Tickseed): Coreopsis varieties, with their bright yellow or red and yellow bicolored flowers, can provide a striking contrast.
Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage): The silvery foliage and lavender-blue spires of Russian Sage complement the blue flowers of the salvia.
Grasses: Ornamental grasses like Panicum virgatum (Switchgrass) or Miscanthus sinensis (Maiden Grass) can provide an excellent textural contrast to the salvia.
Remember to consider the growth habits and sizes of these companion plants to ensure they all have space to thrive and can be seen to their best advantage in your garden design.
Salvia guaranitica is a relatively easy plant to grow in the garden. Here are the key steps to successfully growing this plant:
Sunlight: Salvia guaranitica prefers full sun but can tolerate some afternoon shade in the hottest climates. Avoid too much shade, or the plant might fall over.
Soil: This plant prefers well-draining soil that’s rich in organic matter. If your soil is clay-based or doesn’t drain well, consider improving it with compost or other organic material before planting.
Water: Salvia guaranitica likes consistent moisture, but it doesn’t do well with wet feet. While it’s relatively drought-tolerant once established, it will perform best if watered regularly, especially in dry conditions.
Planting: Plant Salvia guaranitica in the spring after the risk of frost has passed. Dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the pot it comes in. Set the plant in the hole, ensure the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface and backfill with soil. It may also be grown from seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last spring frost date.
Spacing: Space plants about 2 to 3 feet (60-90 cm) apart to allow for mature size and good air circulation.
Fertilization: Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in the spring, following the package instructions.
Pruning: Remove spent flower spikes to promote further blooms and cut back after flowering is over.
Overwintering: In cooler zones, mulch around the base of the plant for winter protection, or consider growing it in a container that can be moved indoors.
Remember that the specific care requirements can vary depending on your local climate and soil conditions. Always check with a local nursery or extension service for the best local advice.
| Hardiness |
8 - 10 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
8 - 11 |
| Climate Zones | 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
| Plant Type | Perennials |
| Genus | Salvia |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Summer (Mid, Late) Fall |
| Height |
2' - 5' (60cm - 150cm) |
| Spread |
2' - 5' (60cm - 150cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Fragrant, Showy |
| Tolerance | Drought, Deer, Rabbit |
| Attracts | Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
| Landscaping Ideas | Wall-Side Borders, Beds And Borders |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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