Salvia farinacea Fairy Queen

Perennial in its native lands, this Salvia farinacea 'Fairy Queen', also known as mealy sage, is grown annually in most regions except in the mild winters of hot climates. This bushy and compact variety offers superb spikes of bicoloured cobalt blue and white flowers grouped on dark purple stems that rise above silver foliage in a particularly refined colour combination. It is suitable for flower beds, borders, and flower pots. It is also a very beautiful cut flower.

Salvia farinacea is a perennial plant native to Texas and Mexico, from the Lamiaceae family. Its low hardiness and rapid growth make it an excellent annual under most of our climates. The 'Fairy Queen' cultivar has a compact and bushy habit, forming tufts of 40 cm (16in) in all directions. It forms clusters of very original dark purple stems, covered with silver-green foliage, with slightly toothed lanceolate leaves, covered on the underside with a white down. From June to October, upright and flexible spikes appear, covered with small white hairs and adorned with cobalt blue petals, except for the lower lip, marked with a large white area. Mealy sages get their name from their stems covered with a light bloom.

The 'Fairy Queen' mealy sage is perfect in a flower bed with roses, marigolds, or rudbeckias. It will enhance large-flowered peonies, emphasising their romantic side. It can also be planted with grasses, gauras, and emerging from the silver foliage of artemisias. This plant forms pretty borders along pathways and can be planted among silver mounds (Cerastium tomentosum), which will carpet its base in a soft harmony of muted tones. Its lavender-like spikes hold up well in a vase.