Blue Bedder Sage (Salvia farinacea) is a stunning perennial herb with deep blue-purple flower spikes that add a vibrant splash of color to gardens, borders, and containers. Known for its long blooming period and ability to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, this sage variety is a popular choice for gardeners looking to brighten up their landscape. These 500 seeds will allow you to grow a striking, hardy plant that thrives in a variety of growing conditions. Whether you’re aiming for a colorful garden display or a pollinator-friendly environment, Blue Bedder Sage is a fantastic option.
Key Features:
- 500 Seeds: This packet contains 500 high-quality Blue Bedder Sage seeds, offering an abundance of flowers for your garden.
- Vibrant Blue Blooms: The plant produces tall, dense spikes of rich blue flowers, creating a stunning contrast against green foliage and other garden plants.
- Pollinator-Friendly: Known for attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, this sage variety enhances biodiversity in your garden.
- Hardy and Resilient: Blue Bedder Sage is a robust plant that is drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and can handle a variety of soil types, making it low-maintenance and easy to grow.
- Long Blooming Period: With flowers that bloom from early summer to fall, this variety of sage ensures a prolonged splash of color in your garden.
- Versatile: It can be used in garden beds, borders, containers, and even as a cut flower for bouquets.
Growing Information:
- Light Requirements: Blue Bedder Sage thrives in full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day to produce its best blooms and foliage.
- Soil Preferences: It grows best in well-draining, moderately fertile soil. While it is adaptable to a range of soil conditions, it prefers slightly alkaline to neutral soil (pH 6.0-7.5).
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Planting Tips:
- Indoor Start: Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost date. Plant seeds 1/8 inch deep and keep the soil lightly moist. Germination typically occurs in 14-21 days at temperatures of 65-70°F (18-21°C).
- Direct Sowing: After the last frost date, sow seeds directly outdoors in a sunny spot. Thin seedlings to about 12 inches apart once they have a few sets of leaves.
- Transplanting: If starting indoors, transplant seedlings after the risk of frost has passed. Make sure to acclimate them to outdoor conditions before transplanting.
- Watering Needs: While Blue Bedder Sage is drought-tolerant once established, it benefits from regular watering during dry spells. Keep the soil evenly moist during the growing season, but ensure proper drainage to avoid waterlogging.
- Temperature: This sage variety thrives in USDA Zones 7-11, as it prefers warmer temperatures and is sensitive to frost.
- Fertilizing: Blue Bedder Sage doesn't require heavy fertilization. A balanced, slow-release fertilizer in the spring can help promote healthy growth and blooms, but avoid over-fertilizing, as this can lead to excessive foliage growth at the expense of flowers.
- Pruning and Care: Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming and prevent the plant from becoming leggy. You can also trim back stems after the first flush of flowers to promote a second bloom. In late fall, cut the plant back to the ground to prepare for the next growing season.
Benefits:
- Attracts Pollinators: The vibrant flowers of Blue Bedder Sage attract a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, enhancing the ecological health of your garden.
- Low Maintenance: Once established, Blue Bedder Sage is drought-tolerant, pest-resistant, and disease-resistant, making it an easy plant to care for.
- Long Blooming Season: With its extended blooming period from early summer to fall, Blue Bedder Sage provides continuous color in your garden for months.
- Versatile Garden Use: Whether used in borders, beds, containers, or as a cut flower, Blue Bedder Sage is a versatile addition to any garden.
- Edging and Bordering: Its upright growth habit and attractive blue flowers make it an excellent choice for creating colorful borders and edges in garden beds.
- Aesthetic Appeal: The deep blue color of the flowers provides a striking contrast to other plants in your garden, making it a key feature in any landscape design.
Growing Zones:
Blue Bedder Sage is suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 7-11. It thrives in warmer climates but may be grown as an annual in cooler zones or indoors as a houseplant during the winter months.
How to Use in the Garden:
- Borders and Edges: Use Blue Bedder Sage to create eye-catching borders along garden pathways, flower beds, or vegetable gardens. Its upright growth and vibrant blooms make it a standout feature.
- Pollinator Gardens: As a pollinator-friendly plant, it’s a great choice for a garden designed to attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
- Container Planting: Blue Bedder Sage’s compact growth habit makes it ideal for container gardening. Grow it on patios, balconies, or porches to enjoy its beauty in a small space.
- Cut Flowers: The long-lasting flowers of Blue Bedder Sage make it a lovely addition to fresh bouquets and arrangements. Cut the flowers just as they begin to open for the longest vase life.
- Mixed Beds: Pair Blue Bedder Sage with other drought-tolerant plants like lavender, yarrow, or daylilies for a cohesive and colorful garden display.
Conclusion:
Blue Bedder Sage (Salvia farinacea) is a hardy, vibrant plant that will add color and life to any garden. With its beautiful blue flowers, low-maintenance nature, and ability to attract pollinators, it’s a wonderful choice for gardeners of all skill levels. These 500 seeds offer the opportunity to grow a flourishing, drought-tolerant herb that will provide beauty and biodiversity for seasons to come. Whether used in containers, borders, or flower beds, Blue Bedder Sage is sure to be a standout in your garden.