Salvia nemorosa Caradonna Compact - Woodland Sage

The Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna Compact' is a more compact variation of the Caradonna woodland sage favoured by all gardeners. Shorter and fuller, it has the same early flowering with an insolent purple on its almost black stems. A melliferous and nectariferous flowering that will continue until autumn as long as the faded flower spikes are removed with shears. Not demanding, tolerant of limestone and drought, this lively little perennial animates sunny beds and flower pots for almost 6 months.

The Salvia nemorosa is a herbaceous perennial of the lamiaceae or labiate family. It is a species native to Central Europe and Western Asia. 'Caradonna Compact' is one of its many cultivars, and not the least since it comes from one of the best. Its adult size will not exceed 40 - 45 cm (18in) in height when flowering, 30 cm (12in) for the foliage, and 40 cm (0 and 16in) in width. This perennial develops from a prostrate rosette of oval, rough, wavy leaves, very dark green, with toothed edges, aromatic when crushed. It has a bushy, compact, dense and sturdy habit. Flowering begins in May and continues until August. It slows down in the height of summer depending on the coolness of the soil, then picks up again in late summer if it has been pruned after the first wave of flowers. From the foliage clump, thin terminal clusters of very dark-coloured flowers emerge, where numerous tiny flowers with intense violet, bracts of a very dark purple, are tightly packed. The beautiful nectar-rich flower spikes delight butterflies and bees. The base of the stems is often reddish. The leafy stems dry up in autumn, with the plant overwintering as small green rosettes close to the ground.

Caradonna Compact sage is an excellent candidate for ornamenting terraces and balconies, and also a privileged host in low-maintenance flower beds. Easy to grow in most regions, it is also one of the hardiest sages, and as such, a wonderful garden perennial that will not disappoint. It can withstand anything, even wind, cold, heat, and poor soils. Like catmints, this perennial will look superb alongside pink-flowered roses like 'The Fairy' or Annelies. Or red for a strong contrast (Mainaufeuer rose). It also pairs perfectly with grey foliage of wormwoods in dry soil, or the purple foliage of Physocarpus opulifolius 'Lady in Red' in moister soil. It also pairs well with light pink-flowered plants like the rose vervain 'Rosea', which will tower over it, the bushy lavatera 'Barnsley', or the Penstemon 'Evelyn'.

With over 900 species of annuals, perennials, and soft-wooded shrubs spread throughout the world, excluding very cold regions and the tropical forest, the genus Salvia is the richest in the lamiaceae family. The name Salvia, which dates back to Roman times, derives from the Latin salvus, meaning 'healthy', alluding to the medicinal properties of common sage.