Botanical Name: Salvia guaranitica ‘Black & Blue’ Common Name: Anise Sage, Blue Salvia Hardiness Zone: Perennial in USDA Zones 7–10 (Grown as an Annual in Colder Climates) Size: 30–48" Tall × 24–36" Spread Growth Habit: Upright, Bushy, Well-Branched Habit Sunlight: Full Sun to Partial Shade Soil: Well-Drained Soil; Adapts to Average Garden Conditions Water Needs: Moderate; Drought Tolerant Once Established Bloom Season: Late Spring through Frost Fertilizer: Light Feeding in Spring; Avoid Excess Nitrogen Features: Deep Cobalt-Blue Flowers with Black Calyxes, Strong Stems, Heat Tolerant, Hummingbird Magnet Uses: Perennial Beds, Pollinator Gardens, Back-of-Border Plantings, Cut Flowers

Patent: ❌ Not Patented Propagation: ✔ Propagation Permitted

See our Salvia Plant Guide for more in depth care details on Salvia.

More About Salvia ‘Black & Blue’

Salvia ‘Black & Blue’ is one of the most iconic hummingbird plants ever introduced, known for its electric cobalt-blue flowers set against dramatic black calyxes. The contrast is striking and instantly recognizable, making it a standout in both perennial and pollinator gardens. The plant forms a tall, upright clump with strong stems and aromatic foliage. In warm climates, it behaves as a long-lived perennial; in cooler regions, it performs vigorously as a fast-growing annual, often reaching full size in a single season.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our trials, ‘Black & Blue’ has been a consistent top performer for pollinator activity, especially hummingbirds, which visit relentlessly once the plant begins blooming. It thrives in summer heat, handles humidity well, and continues flowering when many perennials slow down. We especially appreciate its height and structure. It provides vertical interest and works exceptionally well at the back of beds or as a bold focal plant among shorter perennials and annuals.

Black and Blue vs. Other Salvia Varieties

Salvia ‘Black & Blue’ has earned its reputation as the most dramatic salvia in the garden, combining inky-dark calyxes with deep blue flowers and an unmistakably tall, open form. Instead of forming a solid mound like Rockin’® Blue Suede Shoes™ or Purple & Bloom, it grows upward and outward, functioning more like a vertical accent than a mass planting plant. Compared to shrubbier, denser options such as Hot Lips, its structure feels lighter and more animated, especially when planted behind lower-growing companions. While it is often grown as an annual, its tender perennial nature places it closer to Wendy’s Wish than to true perennials like Lyrical™ White. At 36–60 inches tall, it easily becomes the tallest and most commanding salvia in the lineup.

What sets ‘Black & Blue’ apart is presence and interaction. Its height and spacing allow blooms to sway and move, creating constant visual motion that smaller, more uniform salvias simply don’t offer. Compared to trailing forms like Salvia Bodacious® Hummingbird Falls, it delivers vertical drama instead of spill, making it better suited for back borders and wildlife gardens. Pollinator response—especially from hummingbirds—is unmatched, even when planted near other high-attraction varieties. For gardeners who want salvia to feel theatrical, alive, and impossible to ignore, ‘Black & Blue’ stands alone.