Which one should I have ?

Hi Gardening fiends

I only have space for one but which variety of Salvia ?

• Salvia Amistad

or

• Black and Blue

 

Wish I could help Spruce but apart from one called "black and bloom" I dont know much about them, I've grown that one in a container up till now.
I'll be looking for one that blooms well in partial shade.

 

how tall ,, i think black and bloom has smaller flowers than black and blue ?

 

Hello @Spruce, I grow both. Amistad is the one I prefer as a darker purple colour and it copes well with the cold and seems to flower for longer than the Black and Blue. Both of them are mulched for winter though. Both about 1.5m high.

 

I saw this new variety salvia rockin' blue suede shoes which is more compact

 

Just been reading up on this salvia rockin' blue suede shoes

reviews its a great new variety ... I will have nose who sells it next

 

looks lovely and a good option for a shorter one. Will be interested to know if you get one and how it grows for you. Guess you will sing the song when it blooms for you

 

In a pot about about 2 to 2 1/2ft.

 

Salvia "Amistad" gets to about 4 ft in a large pot with me, overwinters in a cold greenhouse, otherwise it is really slow starter and prone to slugs.
S "Black and Blue" is in the ground outside and reaches about 6ft, flowers almost constantly, gets a bit scraggy at times, has been out side for about 8 years. In my opinion hardier than Amistad and hasn't been cut to the ground, by frost, since planting out. Can wander around a bit though.

 

Interesting they behave differently in our gardens @NigelJ and Black and Blue performs better for you. Lovely to have salvias for the bees too, whichever ones we all grow.

 

I'm still waiting for the humming birds.

 

remind how does the song go

found some on ebay UK

 

I have Amistad and it has grown to 4/5ft very year from ground level. I may have lost it after this winter as it is not fully hardy. Hotlips is reliable but can spread but not too tall, about 2/3 ft.

 

I grow Amistad in a border here. It gets to around 4ft / 1.2m. It's been hardy through the last 6 winters. I don't remove the top growth, though, just bend it over the crown and then clear it when the frosts have finished.