Botanical Name: Salvia farinacea ‘Purple & Bloom’

Common Name: Purple & Bloom Salvia

Hardiness Zone: Grown as an Annual in Most Climates (Perennial in USDA Zones 9–10)

Size: 16–20" Tall × 12–16" Spread

Growth Habit: Compact, Upright, Dense, Well-Branched Habit

Sunlight: Full Sun

Soil: Well-Drained Soil; Adaptable to Average Garden Conditions

Water Needs: Low to Moderate; Drought Tolerant Once Established

Bloom Season: Late Spring through Frost

Fertilizer: Light Feeding; Avoid Excess Nitrogen

Features: Rich Purple Flower Spikes, Continuous Bloom, Excellent Heat Tolerance, Strong Pollinator Attraction

Uses: Landscape Beds, Borders, Containers, Mass Plantings, Pollinator Gardens

Patent: ✔ Patented

Propagation: ❌ Propagation Prohibited Without License

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

More About Salvia ‘Purple & Bloom’

Salvia ‘Purple & Bloom’ is valued for its saturated purple flower spikes and exceptionally long bloom season, delivering reliable color from late spring through fall. The plant maintains a tidy, upright habit while producing continuous waves of blooms, making it a dependable choice for both landscape and container use. This variety was bred for improved branching and uniformity, allowing it to stay compact and full without frequent trimming. Its ability to thrive in heat and full sun makes it especially effective in high-exposure garden areas where consistent color is needed.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our trials, ‘Purple & Bloom’ has been extremely consistent, offering uninterrupted flowering even during peak summer heat. The plant holds its shape well, resists lodging, and maintains strong color without fading, which makes it an easy, low-maintenance performer. We also appreciate its versatility. Its moderate size allows it to function equally well in containers, edging, or mass plantings, while still drawing steady activity from bees and other beneficial pollinators.

Purple and Bloom vs. Other Salvia Varieties

Salvia ‘Purple and Bloom’ is best known for compact size and nonstop purple spikes, making it one of the most efficient “color machines” for sunny beds and containers. Compared to the Mirage™ Series, it’s similarly compact, but often reads a bit fuller and more continuous in flower when used in mass plantings. Against the larger statement plants like Rockin’® Fuchsia, it’s clearly smaller and more controlled—more front/mid-border than back-border. 

Purple & Bloom gets roughly 16–20" tall, and stays well below larger varieties like Hot Lips and Wendy’s Wish. Pollinator activity is consistent, especially bees, though it won’t pull hummingbirds the way Salvia Black & Blue or Hummingbird Falls can. For gardeners who want an easy Salvia that stays neat, handles heat without fuss, and keeps blooming all season, Purple and Bloom is a dependable, no-nonsense choice.