Blue Anise Sage (Salvia guaranitica) is a popular bushy and ornamental sub-shrub featuring showy 2 inches long (5 cm) flowers in intense blue, purple or white, usually with darker purple calyces. Blooming from mid summer to fall to the delight of hummingbirds and butterflies, Salvia guaranitica is easy to grow, fairly pest and disease free and requires low maintenance.

• Native to Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina, this tender perennial is hardy to zones 8-10 and 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 6-7).
• Heat and drought tolerant, it enjoys a lovely foliage, which exudes a soft anise scent when bruised.
• Growing up to 3-5 feet (90-150 cm), it is ideal at the back of the border and mixes wonderfully with the vibrant, hot colors of other perennials such as Crocosmia and Rudbeckia or annuals (Zinnia). Perfect for containers too!
• Enjoys full sun or light shade in average, evenly moist, well-drained soils. Organically rich loam is preferred. Avoid too much shade or the plant might fall over.
• Deer resistant!
• May be grown from seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last spring frost date or sown directly in the ground after the danger of frost has passed.
• Remove spent flower spikes to promote further blooms and cut back after flowering is over.