For the distinctive Black and Blue salvia look, choose a live Salvia guaranitica plant with deep blue flowers and dark calyces; the three-seedling set is best for planting a small border, while the single 3-inch-pot listings suit gardeners who want one starter plant. The seed options below are blue salvias, but they are not identified as the Black and Blue cultivar. Compare plant form, flower description, and growing instructions before choosing.
| Product | Form | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Foliage Store Black & Blue | Three live seedlings | Adding several plants to a border |
| Maples and Evergreens Black and Blue | Live plant in a 3-inch pot | Starting with one plant |
| Maples and Evergreens Black and Blue | Live plant in a 3-inch pot | Seeking summer-to-frost blooms |
| SVI Blue Sage | Seeds | Growing Salvia farinacea from seed |
| Seed Needs Sapphire Sage | Two seed packs | Adding blue salvia to a pollinator garden |
Florida Foliage Store Black & Blue Seedlings
This three-seedling set is the best choice for gardeners who want several Black and Blue salvias for a border or pollinator planting. The listing identifies the plants as Salvia guaranitica and describes brilliant blue flowers with black calyces, a combination that creates the cultivar’s characteristic dark-and-blue contrast.
The plants are described as suited to full sun and well-drained soil, with moderate drought tolerance once established. Their late-summer-to-fall flowers and vertical growth can add height and color to a perennial bed.
- Best for: Planting a small group rather than starting with a single specimen.
- Why it stands out: The listing specifies three live seedlings and the blue-flower, black-calyx appearance.
- Consider: Seedlings need time to establish, and the product information calls for well-drained soil.
Maples And Evergreens Black And Blue Plant
Choose this live Black and Blue Salvia guaranitica if you prefer to begin with one potted plant instead of a multi-plant set. The listing describes a plant in a 3-inch pot and says it attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators.
Its stated heat and drought tolerance may suit gardeners seeking a relatively low-maintenance perennial herb. These traits do not remove the need to check local planting conditions and provide suitable care while the plant establishes.
- Best for: A gardener who wants one live starter plant.
- Why it stands out: It is explicitly listed as Black and Blue Salvia guaranitica.
- Consider: A 3-inch pot is a small starting size; plan for transplanting and establishment.
Black And Blue Salvia With Long Blooming Season
This second 3-inch-pot listing is another option for buyers seeking a live Black and Blue salvia. Its features specifically describe deep blue flowers with black calyces and say blooms continue from summer to frost. It also lists hummingbirds, butterflies, and beneficial pollinators as visitors the plant can attract.
- Best for: Gardeners who prioritize the stated summer-to-frost flowering period.
- Why it stands out: The flower color and dark calyces match the Black and Blue name.
- Consider: The listing describes a 3-inch pot, so it is a starter plant rather than an established large specimen.
SVI Blue Sage Seeds
These seeds are best for gardeners who want to grow blue Salvia farinacea from seed. This is a different named species from the Salvia guaranitica products above, so choose it for blue sage rather than for a guaranteed Black and Blue cultivar. The listing describes plants around 18 inches tall, with heat and drought tolerance and suitability for sunny borders, meadows, and pollinator gardens.
According to the product information, seeds can be surface-sown in late fall. For spring planting, it recommends mixing them with moist sand, refrigerating for 30 days, then keeping the soil lightly moist during germination. It lists spacing plants 12 to 18 inches apart.
- Best for: Seed-starting gardeners comfortable following the listed preparation steps.
- Consider: The seeds are Salvia farinacea, not the Black and Blue Salvia guaranitica cultivar.
Seed Needs Sapphire Sage Seeds
Seed Needs Sapphire Sage is a seed option for gardeners seeking blue salvia flowers in a butterfly garden or insectary. The listing describes it as a perennial that can return yearly from established roots and says the flowers attract pollinators. It also notes that the two-pack offering can be paired with red salvia and Shasta daisies for a mixed planting.
- Best for: Gardeners growing a pollinator bed from seed and interested in perennial blue flowers.
- Why it stands out: The product includes two packs and is presented as Sapphire Sage.
- Consider: The listing does not identify it as Salvia guaranitica or promise the black calyces of Black and Blue salvia.
Buying Guide: Choosing Black And Blue Salvia
Should you buy a live plant or seeds?
Live plants are the more direct option when you want a named Black and Blue Salvia guaranitica. The three-seedling listing is suited to planting several specimens, while the 3-inch-pot listings provide a single starter plant. Seeds can be useful for broader planting, but the two seed products here are described as blue sage or Sapphire Sage, not as the Black and Blue cultivar.
What growing conditions should you check?
The live seedling listing recommends full sun and well-drained soil and notes moderate drought tolerance after establishment. The SVI seed listing calls for full sun and provides specific sowing, germination, and spacing instructions. Check the product details and your local growing conditions before planting; the supplied listings do not provide identical care information.
How important are flower color and bloom timing?
For the recognizable Black and Blue appearance, look for wording that specifies blue flowers and black calyces. Of the listed products, the live Salvia guaranitica listings provide that description. One says flowers appear from late summer to fall; another describes blooms from summer to frost. Treat these as listing details, not a guarantee for every location or season.
Which option is better for pollinators?
All five listings describe pollinator value, though the stated visitors and plant types vary. The live Black and Blue options mention hummingbirds and butterflies, while the seed listings emphasize pollinator or butterfly gardens. Choose based on whether you want the named cultivar, a seed-grown blue sage, or a mix of planting forms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Black and Blue salvia the same as blue sage?
Not necessarily. Black and Blue is listed here as Salvia guaranitica. The SVI seeds are Salvia farinacea, and the Seed Needs product is called Sapphire Sage; neither is identified as the Black and Blue cultivar.
Which product is best for planting multiple Black and Blue salvias?
The Florida Foliage Store listing offers three live Salvia guaranitica seedlings, making it the clearest fit for planting a small group.
Which Black and Blue option comes in a small pot?
Both Maples and Evergreens listings describe a live Black and Blue Salvia guaranitica plant in a 3-inch pot.
Do the listed Black and Blue plants attract hummingbirds?
The Florida Foliage Store and Maples and Evergreens product descriptions state that their plants attract hummingbirds. Individual garden results can depend on conditions and local wildlife.
Can I sow the SVI seeds directly?
The SVI listing describes surface sowing in late fall. For spring sowing, it recommends refrigerating seeds mixed with moist sand for 30 days before planting.