'May Night' Sage Plants
The details
Salvia sylvestris
- AKA Mainacht
- Colour: Purple and burgundy
- Flowering: May-Nov
- Foliage: Mid to deep green
- Height: 75cm x 50cm
- Position: Sunny, sheltered
- Any well drained soil, likes chalk
- RHS Plants for Pollinators
- RHS Award of Garden Merit
Recommended extras
Description
Salvia 'May Night / Mainacht'. 2 Litre Potted Plants
Lush purple flower spikes with warm burgundy tips. The flowering period is July to September. The leaves are quite dark green. Good for bees. To 75cm x 50cm
Browse our range of Salvia varieties or all of our perennial plants.
Features
- AKA Mainacht
- Colour: Purple and burgundy
- Flowering: May-Nov
- Foliage: Mid to deep green
- Height: 75cm x 50cm
- Position: Sunny, sheltered
- Any well drained soil, likes chalk
- RHS Plants for Pollinators
- RHS Award of Garden Merit
Growing 'May Night' Sage
Salvias need close to full sun, and will grow near the coast in exposed locations. They are fully hardy, although their flowering season will be shortened somewhat in cold and windy places. They are happy on chalk, and like a light, well-drained but moist soil enriched with humus that doesn't remain wet in winter, so heavy clay is not good. They are perfect for a Mediterranean or gravel garden, and are great in large containers. Established plants are drought resistant, but still want fairly consistent moisture in dry summer periods to flower really well.
They are perfect for a Mediterranean or gravel garden, and are great in large containers.
Deadhead promptly to get the most from the flowering season. Leave the withered foliage on the plants overwinter for protection, and trim them after the last spring frost, right down to new growth.
Mulch lightly every year or two, ideally after a heavy spring rain when the soil has warmed up. Salvias don't need much fertility, so a little help goes a long way.
In Your Garden Design
A shorter flowering period than many other salvias, Mainacht would add a dash of indigo-blue flowers in an herbaceous border and would look striking offset with Astrantia bHadspen Bloodb or Star of Beauty and/or Eryngium Big Blue, finally adding an Astelia Silver Spear for a note of sophistication.
Planting Instructions
Position in full sun in well-drained soil enriched with humus planting 60cm apart. Water until established then drought tolerant. Avoid spots affected by winter waterlogging. Protect from slugs. Suitable for containers.
Apply a general fertiliser and a mulch in spring. Protect against slugs and snails. Deadhead to prolong flowering. Divide in spring.